Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Cannes Film Festival: Ken Loach and Mike Leigh to fight it out for the Palme d'Or

 

Nick Clark
Thursday 17 April 2014 21:21 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Cannes darlings Ken Loach and Mike Leigh are set to go head to head for the coveted Palme d’Or as the two British representatives at this year’s festival competition.

Thierry Fremaux, director of the Cannes Film Festival, named the movies selected for the 67 festival at a press conference in Paris, including the 18 competing for the Palme d’Or.

Among the titles selected in competition were Jimmy’s Hall, which is expected to be Loach’s last feature, as well as Leigh’s Mr Turner, about the life of celebrated landscape painter JMW Taylor.

Jane Campion, the Oscar-winning director of The Piano, is the chair of the jury this year following Steven Spielberg in 2013.

Other Cannes veterans to be in the running for the statuette are David Cronenberg with Maps to the Stars, Jean-Luc Godard with Adieu au Langage and Atom Egoyan with The Captive.

The Search, from The Artist director Michel Hazanavicius, and frontier drama The Homesman directed by Tommy Lee Jones also made the nominees.

Grace of Monaco, the Grace Kelly biopic starring Nicole Kidman, was already announced as the film to open the festival, although it is out of competition.

Another British film – Snow in Paradise, directed by Andrew Hulme – was selected in the Un Certain Regard competition, which will also see Ryan Gosling’s directorial debut Lost River.

Loach revealed last year Jimmy’s Hall was likely to be his last feature though he plans to continue making documentaries.

Apple TV+ logo

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days

New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled

Try for free
Apple TV+ logo

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days

New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled

Try for free

The film was saved by animation studio Pixar, who sent over their entire stock of edge numbering tape, crucial in syncing the picture and sound when cutting film together. Loach has resisted the move to shooting on digital cameras.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in