Cannes Film Festival 2021 might get postponed
The Cannes Film Festival 2021 might get postponed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Organizers of the world's biggest film festival revealed that they may have to put off the event, which usually takes place in May.
Cannes Film Festival logo / Source: Cannes Film Festival
Last year, the Cannes Film Festival was cancelled, while its rival events such as the Berlin International Film Festival and the Venice Film Festival pushed through under stringent health protocols.
This year, the 74th Festival de Cannes is originally scheduled to take place from May 11 to 22. However, organizers need time "to evaluate the situation at the start of the year” before deciding on the final date for the event.
The deadline of submission of film entries for this year's Cannes Film festival are as follows:
February 15 - film school students
March 1 - short films
March 5 - feature films
In 2019, the South Korean film Parasite directed by Bong Joon-Ho bagged the coveted Palme d'Or, the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
It also won the Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film and the BAFTA Award for Best Film Not in the English Language.
Parasite is also the first non-English film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.
Filipinos have also won prestigious awards in previous Cannes Film Festival events.
In 2000, the short film Anino by Raymond Red became the first Filipino film to have won the prestigious Palme d'Or award.
It starred Eddie Garcia, Ronnie Lazaro, John Arcilla, Ermie Concepcion, and Ronnie Pulido.
Movie poster for ANINO / Source: IMDB
In 2000, Brillante Mendoza became the first Filipino to win the Prix de la Mise en Scene or Best Director award at the Cannes Film Festival for psychological thriller Kinatay.
Its cast included Coco Martin, John Regala, Maria Isabel Lopez, Jhong Hilario, Julio iaz, Mercedes Cabral, Allan Paule, Lauren Novero, and Benjie Filomeno.
Cannes Film Festival 2000 Best Director Brillante Mendoza
In 2016, multi-awarded actress Jaclyn Jose became the first Filipino to win Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival for her stellar performance in the film Ma' Rosa, directed by Brillante Mendoza.
Also starring in Ma' Rosa are actors Felix Roco, Jomari Angeles, Julio Diaz, Neil Sese, and Jaclyn's daughter, Andi Eigenmann.
Cannes Film Festival 2016 Best Actress Jaclyn Jose / Source: @jaclynjose (IG)
In her acceptance speech, Jaclyn thanked the Cannes jury and director Brillante Mendoza.
“I don't know what to say. I'm so surprised! I just went here to walk on the red carpet with my daughter. Thank you to Cannes, thank you so much. Thank you to the jury. Thank you for liking our film."
"Thank you also to Brillante Mendoza. I was just following whatever he tells me to do. He is such a brilliant director--a genius in the Philippines, and now, here in your country.”
She also dedicated her win to all Filipinos by saying, "I would also like to share this recognition to all the Filipinos who are here, to my daughter, to Brillante, to my countrymen, to the Philippines. Thank you so much, France, for loving our work."
Will there be a new Filipino film, director or actor competing and winning at the Cannes Film Festival this year? We shall soon find out.
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