Cannes: Grand Prix du Jury for Swiss coproduction

24.05.2014

This year’s Grand Prix du Jury of the Festival de Cannes goes to the film “Le meraviglie” by Alice Rohrwacher. The prize is the second highest awarded at the International Film Festival in Cannes. This is the first time a feature-length fiction film with Swiss participation has been honoured with the prestigious award at the Festival de Cannes. After the Palme d’or, the Grand Prix du Jury is the festival’s most important prize, honouring the most original film screened in the competition. The Italian-Swiss-German coproduction “Le meraviglie” is the second fiction film by the Italian director Alice Rohrwacher. The autobiographic film about her family was coproduced by Tiziana Soudani (Amka Films, Ticino). The Bernese actress Sabine Timoteo stars in a role, alongside Alice’s sister Alba Rohrwacher and the Italian film diva Monica Bellucci.

Shortly after the presentation of the award, Monica Bellucci said, “Alice is marvellous! It’s a magical moment.” The Swiss coproducer Tiziana Soudani: “I am absolutely delighted and proud that Switzerland contributed to this success! An excellent signal for future productions from Switzerland!” Tiziana Soudani had already coproduced Alice Rohrwacher’s first film (“Corpo celeste”), which had also premiered in Cannes – in the Directors’ Fortnight section in 2011. With her second film “Le meraviglie,” Alice Rohrwacher was cause for yet another tremendous surprise in the International Competition. The 30-year-old filmmaker, with a degree in Philosophy, is one of the youngest filmmakers ever to have won an award in Cannes.

Two other entries by Swiss filmmakers were among the 18 films screened in the International Competition: the Swiss coproduction “Clouds Of Sils Maria” by Olivier Assayas; and the latest film by Jean-Luc Godard “Adieu au langage.” The French-Swiss director Jean-Luc Godard was honoured at the award ceremony with the Jury Prize, ex aequo together with the film “Mommy” by Xavier Dolan. Thus, the 67th International Film Festival in Cannes is likely to be remembered – from the Swiss standpoint – as one of the most successful editions.

Zurich, May 24, 2014

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