Cannes 2022: two French films rewarded at the Directors’ Fortnight

The Directors’ Fortnight may be a parallel and non-competitive section within the Cannes Film Festival, but prizes are still awarded. And these are two French feature films that were crowned this year by the partners of the Société des Réalisateurs de Films.

Present in Competition last July, Mia Hansen-Love was this time in the Quinzaine des Réalisateurs with Un beau matin, which earned her the distinction of best European film by the Europa Cinemas Label. Carried by Léa Seydoux and Melvil Poupaud, this beautiful drama centered on a woman who visits her sick father does not yet have a release date.

The same goes for La Montagne, a drama with poetic and fantastic overtones by and with Thomas Salvador, the story of a man who decides to drop everything to reconnect with nature, and which received the SACD Prize.

“By giving precedence to La Montagne by Thomas Salvador, we are giving precedence to the prodigious audacity and radiant simplicity of a generous cinema”said Delphine Gleize, SACD’s cinema administrator. “The spectacular and intimate ambition of the film, through its fine writing and formal ambition, took us on a memorable journey.”

“What nerve to make a film to go and check in the heart of the Mountain something that is inexpressible in itself. This prize is, in our opinion, a Grand Prix for Cinema, it devotes as much to the screenwriter, the director as the interpreter . It consecrates an author.”

Note that a third prize was also awarded at the start of the festival: the Carrosse d’Or, awarded to Kelly Reichardt, who will present Showing Up in Competition. And the twenty-three feature films in the selection will be screened at the Forum des Images in Paris from June 16 to 26.

Quinzaine des Réalisateurs 2022: the complete list of winners

• Europa Cinemas label: One Beautiful Morning by Mia Hansen-Love
• SACD Directors’ Fortnight Prize: The Mountain by Thomas Salvador
• Golden Carriage: Kelly Reichardt