04/04/2016 - The feature debut by Arthur Harari has got some impressive recognition at the International Thriller Film Festival, which crowned the Korean title Man on High Heels

After it turned a lot of heads last month at the Rendez-Vous with French Cinema organised in New York by UniFrance, Dark Inclusion [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Arthur Harari
film profile], the feature debut by French director Arthur Harari, continues to make a name for itself, as it has just won a Special Jury Prize at the eighth Beaune International Thriller Film Festival, which drew to a close yesterday. Produced by Les Films Pelléas and co-produced by Belgian outfits Savage Film and Frakas Productions, Dark Inclusion is toplined by Niels Schneider and German actors Auguste Diehl and Hans-Peter Cloos. The French release will be handled on 8 June by Ad Vitam, while international sales are managed by Films Distribution.

The jury chaired by Sandrine Bonnaire (and including Marina Foïs, Déborah François, Ludivine Sagnier, Jean-Pierre Améris, Pierre Schoeller, Cédric Anger and Melvil Poupaud) handed the 2016 Grand Prix to Korean film Man on High Heels by Jang Jin (set to be released in France on 13 July by Zootrope Films), which also pocketed the Critics’ Prize. A second Special Prize was presented to the Mexican-French co-production Desierto [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Jonás Cuarón (out on 13 April, courtesy of Version Originale/Condor). 

The Fresh Blood competitive section was won by The Ardennes [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Robin Pront
film profile] by young Belgian director Robin Pront (out on 13 April via Diaphana Distribution) and the Special Police Jury crowned The People vs Fritz Bauer [+see also:
trailer
interview: Lars Kraume
film profile] by Lars Kraume (set to be released in France on 13 April via ARP Sélection). 

Interestingly, the Beaune International Thriller Film Festival paid tribute to US filmmaker Brian de Palma (who also taught a Film Lesson), and the Claude Chabrol Prize – which serves to acknowledge a French film released in the past year whose cinematic qualities do the thriller genre proud – went to Heatwave [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Raphael Jacoulot.

Among the various titles screened at Beaune this year, both in and out of competition, we could mention Lea [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Italy’s Marco Tullio Giordana, To Steal From a Thief [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Daniel Calparsoro
film profile] by Spaniard Daniel Calparsoro, Retribution [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Dani de la Torre
film profile] by his fellow countryman Dani De la Torre, Sky [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Fabienne Berthaud, Braqueurs by French director Julien Leclercq, Hevn (Revenge) [+see also:
trailer
interview: Kjersti G Steinsbø
film profile] by Norway’s Kjersti Steinsbø and A Conspiracy of Faith [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Hans Petter Moland.

Here is the complete list of winners:

Grand Prix
Man on High Heels – Jang Jin

Special Jury Prize
Dark Inclusion [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Arthur Harari
film profile] – Arthur Harari
Desierto [+see also:
trailer
film profile] – Jonás Cuarón

Fresh Blood Jury Prize
The Ardennes [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Robin Pront
film profile] – Robin Pront

Critics’ Prize
Man on High Heels – Jang Jin

Special Police Jury Prize
The People vs Fritz Bauer [+see also:
trailer
interview: Lars Kraume
film profile] – Lars Kraume

(Translated from French)