Winterbottom and Korine head to the Croisette

by Natasha Senjanovic

20/04/2007 - At least two UK feature co-productions have been chosen for this year’s Cannes Film Festival (May 16-27): A Mighty Heart [trailer] by prolific British director Michael Winterbottom, screening out of competition, and US filmmaker Harmony Korine’s Mister Lonely [trailer] (Un Certain Regard).

A three-time Palm d’Or nominee – for 24 Hour Party People [trailer] (2002), Wonderland (1999) and Welcome to Sarajevo (1997) – Winterbottom has made a majority US film co-produced by Paramount Vantage, Plan B Entertainment and the director’s own UK outfit, Revolver Films.

The film tells the story of a woman (Angelina Jolie) who goes on a frantic search for her husband after he goes missing in Pakistan.

Considered a maverick by Hollywood, the latest offering by Korine (Julien Donkey-Boy), on the other hand, is a majority UK film (Recorded Picture Company and the director’s London-based company O’Salvation), co-produced by France and Ireland.

The story of a Michael Jackson impersonator (Diego Luna) who falls in love with a Marilyn Monroe look-a-like (British actress Samantha Morton) – with a intriguing cast that includes Werner Herzog and David Blaine – is being sold internationally by the newly created Dreamachine (see article).

A third UK title, the short film For the Love of God by Joseph Tucker, a National Film and Television School project, was also selected for the Cinefondation section.

In response to yesterday’s announcement on the Cannes line-up, a UK Film Council spokesperson said: “We are delighted that A Mighty Heart, Mister Lonely and the short film For the Love of God have all been selected. President of this year’s Cannes Jury is Stephen Frears, who’s had such a successful year with The Queen [trailer, film focus]. Britain dominated Cannes in 2006 with The Wind that Shakes the Barley [trailer, film focus] and Red Road [trailer], scooping the top two prizes, and this year British talent has a starring role in deciding the winners.”