Cannes Critics’ Week Artistic Director Ava Cahen Talks 2023 Line-Up; South-East Asia Wave; “Feminine” Themes & Official Selection Relations
17.04.2023 - 11:59
/ deadline.com
Cannes Critics’ Week Artistic Director Ava Cahen has unveiled the line-up for the 62nd edition of the parallel sidebar focused on first and second films, running May 17 to 25.
The compact selection will showcase 11 features, seven in Competition, and four as Special Screenings. Full details of the line-up can be found here. The short film line-up will be announced in the coming days.
This is Cahen’s second Selection as Artistic Director after a successful inaugural year in the role in 2022, topped by award-winning titles Aftersun, Alma Viva, Dalva and La Jauria.
Deadline talked to Cahen about the challenges of getting her second Selection over the line as well as some of the themes and trends to have emerged in the process.
DEADLINE: It’s your second Selection as Artistic Director after your well-received inaugural 2022 line-up. Did you find the process more difficult or easier this year?
AVA CAHEN: It was different, but not more difficult. Every year the counters are reset to zero. Everything depends on the productions we receive and the territories that send us films.
I was very happy with last year’s Selection and its reception, but you can’t rest on your laurels. We set off afresh again this year with the aim of doing even better.
The selection committee has also changed a bit which brought in different sets of critical eyes on the films and that has also had its influence on this year’s Selection.
DEADLINE: You received 1,000 feature submissions. Is that in line with last year? Could you draw any conclusions on the health of the international arthouse production scene from the submissions?
CAHEN: It’s in line with the average submissions. There were some territories that were particularly on form this year