Cannes Directors’ Fortnight Selector to visit

Benjamin Illos, a member of the Selection Committee for Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes, will visit Australia in August.

A guest of Screen Australia, he will view new feature films and will also join the jury of the inaugural 2014 CinefestOz Film Prize in WA.

Every year the Directors’ Fortnight programs a selection of films from around the world for screening during the Cannes Film Festival in May.

Created by the French Directors’ Society (SRF) in 1969, the Directors’ Fortnight is about highlighting new talent in world cinema and the directors of tomorrow. It supports talented filmmakers whose work has not been shown in the major international festivals. The program runs alongside the Cannes Official Selection.

In 2014 Australian feature film These Final Hours had its international premiere there, and in past years other films invited include short film Cicada in 2009 and features Jindabyne in 2006 and Wolf Creek in 2005.

Directors’ Fortnight requires that films be made in the 12 months preceding the festival and they should not have been screened outside Australia at any international festival or film event except an international market screening.

Note: Selection for Cannes Film Festival (Competition, Out of competition, Un Certain Regard) and the Critics' Week are handled by separate organisations.

Filmmakers with eligible feature films  should contact Dale Fairbairn at Screen Australia. Submission deadline is Wednesday 20 August 2014.