2009 Cannes First Awards

Today the fest announced the following awards.

The Ecumenical Jury Prize: Looking for Eric, Ken Loach, UK, France, Italy, Spain and Belgium, 2009
For its great artistic value and humorous, optimistic, and humanistic approach to a contemporary society in crisis.

Special Mention: Das weiße Band (The White Ribbon), Michael Haneke, Austria, Italy, France and Germany, 2009
The White Ribbon prompts us to be ever vigilant about the symptoms of our personal violence, which also paves the way for social and political violence.

FIPRESCI Awards

Main Competition and Un Certain Regard
FIPRESCI Award: Das weiße Band (The White Ribbon), Michael Haneke, Austria, Italy, France and Germany, 2009
Special Mention: Politist, Adjectiv (Police, Adjective), Corneliu Porumboiu, Romania, 2009

Parallel Sections
FIPRESCI Award: Amreeka, Cherien Dabis, USA, Canada and Kuwait, 2009

France Culture Cinema Prize
The 2009 prize, offering recognition to a filmmaker for his/her body of work and commitment, was awarded to screenwriter-director François Dupeyron. The honors were bestowed by a Jury headed by actress Sandrine Bonnaire. François Dupeyron was grateful and stated, "Filmmakers have a big responsibility when they permeate the spirit of their audiences…And that is why I refuse to make violent films.”

To check the official announcement at Cannes site go here. The news are not up yet at FIPRESCI site but I imagine that soon will also be here.

The FIPRESCI awards do not surprise me, as many critics praised Haneke’s work and predictions were leaning toward this movie for this award and at least one major award in the main competition.