27/04/2009

The latest films by João Pedro Rodrigues, Pedro Costa and João Nicolau have been chosen to participate at the upcoming Cannes Film Festival (May 13-24), marking the return to the Croisette of the three filmmakers, all of whom have won critical acclaim there in the past.

After Odete [+see also:
trailer
film profile], presented in the Directors' Fortnight in 2006, Rodrigues is now competing in Un Certain Regard with To Die Like a Man [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]. Produced by Maria João Sigalho for Rosa Filmes, in co-production with France's Ad Vitam the film is backed by Eurimages, ICA, RTP and by Portugal's recently created fund FICA.

To Die Like a Man follows the life a catholic transvestite, pushed by his boyfriend to complete the operation that will turn him into a woman. Rodrigues is expected to have followed a narrative style similar to his previous features, creating an appealing blend of fantasy and reality.

Actress Jeanne Balibar, who in the latest years also developed her talents as a singer and dancer, was captured by Costa in his latest black and white documentary, Ne Change Rien. Produced by Lisbon-based company Sociedade Optica Tecnica and Parisian Red Star Cinéma (which also handles international sales), the film will screen in the Directors' Fortnight.

This same section will also host the short film Canção de Amor e Saúde, the latest work by Nicolau, who came to attention in 2007 with Rapace.

Director-producer Rodrigo Areias (Tebas) will also be in Cannes as part of the EFP initiative Producers on the Move, while Berlin-based filmmaker Hugo Vieira da Silva (Body Rice [+see also:
trailer
film profile]) will promote his latest project at the Cinéfondation atelier.