Now in its 12th year, the prestigious Lumiere Awards, presented by foreign media representatives based in Paris, once again honored current French film production at a ceremony hosted by Isabelle Mergault held February 5 at the Espace Cardin in Paris.
Founded in 1995 on the initiative of former Unifrance president Daniel Toscan du Plantier and the American journalist Edward Behr, the “Académie des Lumières” has a membership of around 200 foreign media correspondents based in Paris, representing some fifty countries. The goal of the Academy is closely aligned to that of Unifrance in working to enhance the promotion and distribution of French films (particularly French-language films) in the international arena.
This year, journalists presented the Lumiere Panther for Best Film to Guillaume Canet, director of Tell No One. Cantet was also winner of the TV5 World Network’s Audience Award, with viewers able to vote via the television network’s website.
Pascale Ferran won the Lumiere Award for Best Director for Lady Chatterley, and her lead actress Marina Hands picked up the Best Actress award.
Je vais bien ne t'en fais pas by Philippe Lioret scooped up two prizes, with Mélanie Laurent voted Most Promising Actress, and Julien Boisselier, Most Promising Actor.
Gérard Depardieu’s performance in Quand j'étais chanteur (I Did It My Way) by Xavier Giannoli won the hearts of journalists, who presented him with the Best Actor Award.
The Panther for Best Screenplay went to Rachid Bouchareb and his co-writer Olivier Lorelle for Days of Glory. Bamako by Abderrahmane Sissako won the award for Best non-French film shot in the French language.
Four short films presented by Unifrance were also screened during the ceremony: Gratte-papier by Guillaume Martinez, À l'époque by Nadine Buss, Acteur by Jocelyn Quivrin, and Jeanne, à petits pas by Négar Djavadi.
For further information, please contact Grazyna Arata, General Secretary of the “Académie des Lumières”
grazyarata@aol.com
