Queer Palm: New LGBT Prize Debuts at Cannes Film Festival
Yesterday began all the glitz, glamour, and glad-handing as cineastes and cinephiles converged in Cannes for the 63rd annual Cannes Film Festival, which runs through May 23, 2010. This year, amid all the film premieres, press junkets, and fashion frenzies will be something new: an award presented to a film in any category of the festival for its contribution to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community. The Queer Palm—named after the festival's highest honor, the Palme d'Or or Golden Palm—was the brainchild of journalist Franck Finance-Madureira, who succeeded early on in gaining the support of award-winning directors Olivier Ducastel and Jacques Martineau. They were inspired by the annual LGBT awards given at two other major international film festivals: the Teddy Award at the Berlin International Film Festival and the Queer Lion at the Venice Film Festival.
Ducastel and Martineau both consider themselves to be "gay filmmakers," with one of their films, Drôle de Félix, having won a Teddy in 2000. Martineau says, "Having a Teddy is a very special calling card for a film and its director." He adds, "The ceremony is fun but at the same time very formal since it takes place in the presence of the festival director. Berlin has become an essential venue for LGBT festival organizers." Given the added publicity boost that festival awards give to films in search of both distributors and audiences, Finance-Madureira figured that the most famous of film festivals, which includes the busiest film market in the world, should honor works that address LGBT issues.
However, as with any new venture, the Queer Palm is off to a humble start. "All will depend on the money that we can raise," says the journalist. The amount of financial support that the Queer Palm generates in its first year will determine whether the award is presented in the ballroom of the luxury hotel where the other festival awards are given or in a simple back-street bar.
For now, the 8-member jury who will decide which film will win the Queer Palm has already been formed. It includes four directors of international LGBT film festivals and four journalists. The award may be given to a film in any festival category—even those that are not eligible for or entered into any official competitions. Among the films considered for the inaugural Queer Palm are Kaboom by American director Gregg Araki and Heartbeats by Canadian newcomer Xavier Dolan.
To view trailers (NSFW) and the press kit for Araki's Kaboom, click on the clip below.
To view trailers and the press kit for Dolan's Heartbeats, click on the clip below.
[Editor's Note: Click here to see who won the competition.]
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It’s great to know that a big
It’s great to know that a big festival like Cannes is showing some love for the LBGT community. There are many young filmmakers who are producing exciting work that will one day be featured at festivals. High school students like this kid John, he has already made 2 films and is the subject of a feature documentary that will be released this year. He is a 17 year old African-American who is out, charming, inspired, and inspiring. He and students just like him need festivals to recognize gay films to aspire to and to give them a home for their work. You can see him talking about filmmaking here: http://www.itsasickness.com/lounge/john-dargan-obsessed-filmmaking
It may take a while for him to have a shot at a big fest like Cannes, but at least the opportunity exists if Queer Palm gets the support it deserves.