The compact selection will showcase 11 features, seven in Competition, and four as Special Screenings.
Full details of the line-up can be foundhere.
The short film line-up will be announced in the coming days.
Ava Cahen, Cannes Critics' Week Artistic Director© Aurélie Lamachère
Did you find the process more difficult or easier this year?
AVA CAHEN:It was different, but not more difficult.
Every year the counters are reset to zero.
Everything depends on the productions we receive and the territories that send us films.
I was very happy with last years Selection and its reception, but you cant rest on your laurels.
We set off afresh again this year with the aim of doing even better.
DEADLINE:You received 1,000 feature submissions.
Is that in line with last year?
Could you draw any conclusions on the health of the international arthouse production scene from the submissions?
CAHEN:Its in line with the average submissions.
It was a real pleasure exploring what was on offer there.
This year we fell in love with films coming from countries where filmmaking is more complicated.
DEADLINE:Its great to see that film in the Critics Week Selection.
Its a project Ive been following very attentively, and Im dazzled by the final result.
Its something that you normally see in great directors such as Asghar Farhadi.
Amjad seizes the subject and masters it.
The situation was politically, socially and ideologically extremely complex on all levels.
We fell in love with this film too.
Its been a long time since we fell in love with a Brazilian film in this way.
How did you connect with that film?
They put it under our noses and were right to.
Its an incredible film by the former assistant of Bong Joon-Ho, Jason Yu.
Its a dramatic comedy and horror about a couple, before the arrival of their first child.
The mix of comedy and exorcist and ghost films is thrilling.
CAHEN:I am very sensitive to the way the world is looked at by children.
I think we can learn a lot from their gaze and point of view.
This bang out of representation is quite rare in French cinema.
Its a film that tears at your heartstrings.
Its extremely well-acted and we were also struck by the finesse and delicacy of the mise-en-scene and the writing.
DEADLINE:Were living in politically tense times, both internationally and domestically around the world.
Perisic is a child of neorealism and when I saw this film, I immediately thought ofGermany Year Zero.
Tiger Stripesis also set in asocio-political context.
There are a lot of female-driven stories in this years line-up.
Do you think the fact you are a woman influences the flavor of Selection?
CAHEN:What guides our choices is the films which we assess on an artistic basis.
We will never choose a film on the basis of its subject matter.
Were interested in the form and how a filmmaker deals with the subject matter.
These are themes which everyone is interested in.
But its the films and the way the subject matter is handled that caught our attention.
DEADLINE:This year six of the 11 selected films are directed by women.
Is it the first time women-directed films are in the majority in the history of Critics Week?
CAHEN: Last year, we were at five female filmmakers and six male filmmakers.
There again, we didnt do this with some sort of quota in mind.
We didnt reflect on this as a political gesture.
The line-up is made up of what we perceived as the best films and what swept us up.
Its exciting to see, however, that more and more first and second films are directed by women.
Theyre good films and thats why we selected them.
DEADLINE:Critics Week is overseen by the French Syndicate of Cinema Critics.
Do you think critics are a species at risk of extinction or is there a future for the profession?
CAHEN: I hope so.
We play a key role as passeurs.
We transmit emotions, analysis and knowledge.
I hope were still essential.
We have to keep the art of film criticism alive and thats what Critics Week is about.
I am pleased to see the section is now at its 62nd edition.
There are fewer and fewer critics in full-time, salaried jobs and more and more freelancers.
DEADLINE: Happeningdirector Audrey Diwan is president of the jury.
What drew you to her for the role?
CAHEN:There are a billion reasons.
Audrey is also an accomplished writer and screenwriter.
We were talking about film critics and Audrey is also part of this corporation.
Were you hoping to show them in your Selection?
CAHEN: On the contrary.
I have a selection of just 11 films and I am obliged to be very selective in my choices.
I am always over the moon.
There are more and more first and second films in existence.
We play complementary roles.
DEADLINE:A bit of a cheeky question.
You still have a long career road ahead of you.
Could you envisage yourself one day overseeing the Official Selection?
CAHEN: Oh la, la [laughs].
I love being at Critics Week.
You cant imagine what a privilege it is and I am happy to be here for now.
What I envisage rather is a third year here.
[Cannes Delegate General] Thierry Fremaux does an amazing job.
