20/12/2010

Often dubbed the “Goncourt of cinema”, the Louis-Delluc Prize for 2010 was awarded to Raoul Ruiz’s Mysteries of Lisbon [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by a jury of 14 critics presided by Gilles Jacob. The film beat seven other nominees (see list). The title for Best Debut Feature went to Rebecca Zlotowski’s Dear Prudence [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile].

Mysteries of Lisbon was produced by Paulo Branco through his French and Portuguese companies Alfama Films and Clap Filmes (which released the film in the two countries on October 20 and 21, 2010). The 4hr 26min-long feature previously won Best Director at San Sebastian.

Receiving the Louis-Delluc Prize on Ruiz’s behalf, Branco said: "It’s absolutely extraordinary for a film of this length to get an award like this. It proves that such unusual projects, which lay outside the profession’s expectations, can achieve success. This prize is a recognition of the fact that risk-taking and boldness still pay off in cinema."

Produced by Frédéric Jouve for Les Films Velvet, Dear Prudence (starring Léa Seydoux and Anaïs Demoustier) was co-produced by Moby Dick Films with backing from Canal +, an advance on receipts from the National Film and Moving Image Centre (CNC) and support from the Upper Normandy region. Unveiled in May in Cannes Critics’ Week (see review), it was launched in French theatres on November 10 by Pyramide Distribution.

Zlotowski (see video interview), who was there to receive her Louis-Delluc Prize for Best Debut Film, said: "I like it when critical opinion accompanies a film. I read reviews, not out of vanity or masochism, but because one waits for them a bit like one waits for romantic meetings. As my film garnered relatively few admissions, I take this award as a real encouragement for the future."

(Translated from French)