2007 Delluc to The Secret of the Grain

13/12/2007

Released in French theatres yesterday, the third feature by Abdellatif Kechiche (see interview), The Secret of the Grain [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Hafsia Herzi
film profile], has received the Louis-Delluc Award for Best French Film of 2007, following in the footsteps of Pascale Ferran’s Lady Chatterley [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile].

Considered the most prestigious award in French cinema along with the Césars, and presented by a jury headed by Gilles Jacob (Cannes Film Festival director), the Louis-Delluc Award has honoured France’s greatest directors since its creation in 1937, from Jean Renoir to Claude Sautet, as well as Clouzot, Bresson, Truffaut, Pialat, Chéreau, Desplechin and Philippe Garrel.

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With this accolade, Kechiche pursues his glittering career that began with Blame It On Voltaire (Golden Lion for Best First Film at Venice 2000) and continued with Games of Love and Chance [+see also:
trailer
film profile], which picked up four César awards in 2005 (Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Female Newcomer).

The Secret of the Grain, starring Habib Boufares, had already scooped three prizes at the latest Venice Film Festival: the Special Jury Prize, the Marcello Mastroianni award for Best Emerging Actress (Hafsia Herzi) and the Fipresci Award.

Produced by Claude Berri for Pathé Renn Productions, The Secret of the Grain was co-produced by Hirsch on a budget of €6.1m, including a €1m investment by France 2 Cinéma. Pathé is distributing the film domestically and coordinating international sales for the title set to be released in Italy, as well as other countries, on January 11.

The 2007 Delluc Award for Best First Film went to Mia Hansen-Love’s All Is Forgiven [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: David Thion
interview: Mia Hansen-Löve
film profile] (see Focus – production Les Films Pelléas) and to Céline Sciamma’s Water Lilies [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (see interview - Les Productions Balthazar), two features unveiled at the Cannes 2007 (the former in the Directors’ Fortnight and the latter in Un Certain Regard) and sold internationally by Pyramide and Films Distribution respectively.