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The 60th Louis Delluc Prize was awarded to "To Be and To Have" by Nicolas Philibert, December 11.
Nine films were in the running for the 60th Louis Delluc Prize (whose jury is composed of film critics, this year presided by Gilles Jacob). They were: "The Adversary" by Nicole Garcia, "Glowing Eyes" by Jacques Nolot, "Monday Morning" by Otar Iosseliani, "To Be and To Have" by Nicolas Philibert, "Shipwrecked on Route D17" by Luc Moullet, "Mischka" by Jean-François Stévenin, "Ren· by Alain Cavalier, "Wimbledon Stage" by Mathieu Amalric and "Friday Night" by Claire Denis. "To Be and To Have," a documentary by Nicolas Philibert, follows in the trail of last year's winner, "Intimacy" by Patrice Chéreau. This year marks the first time since 1947 that the Prize was awarded to a documentary ("Paris 1900" by Pierre Braunberger and Nicole Vedres), the second time in the history of the "Goncourts" awards for the French movie industry, founded in 1937.
After an enthusiastic reception at the 55th Cannes International Film Festival, "To Have and To Be," produced by Maia Films, has stamped itself as the surprise hit of the fall season. Released in France August 28 (distributed by Les Films du Losange), the film has already charmed close to1.5 million moviegoers.
With sales deals already secured in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Canada, the United States, Greece end the Netherlands (with international sales handled by Mercure), "To Be and To Have" has also been selected at numerous film festivals around the world. It has been screened at New York, Pusan, Sao Paulo, Toronto, Vienna, Tubingen and Valladolid, among others. Finally, aside from the Louis Delluc Prize, the film has picked up the Grand Prix at the Florence French Film Festival, the Tubingen Prize and was awarded Best Documentary at Valladolid. And this is just the beginning!
Cécile Poutiers
