This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Cannes Classics section, a major step in preserving and celebrating the world’s cinematographic heritage. This section, dedicated to memory and the history of cinema, offers an eclectic selection of restored films, captivating documentaries and special events, welcoming an impressive range of prestigious guests, ranging from great artists to renowned filmmakers, passing by emblematic personalities of the world of cinema.
Preservation and restoration: honor the past, celebrate the present
The Cannes Classics section highlights the crucial importance of preserving and restoring cinematographic works. Thanks to the tireless efforts of cinematheques, catering laboratories and committed filmmakers, masterpieces of the past continue to shine on screens around the world, thus preserving their beauty and relevance for future generations.
Among the highlights of this edition, the 100 years of the Columbia Pictures are celebrated with the restored projection of the classic Gildadirected by Charles Vidor in 1946. This exceptional presentation, supervised by Sony Pictures Entertainment, offers an immersive cinematographic experience, restored from the original Nitrate negative, thus offering a new life to this jewel of Hollywood cinema.
The brilliant presence of the big names in cinema
The anniversary edition of Cannes Classics is also marked by the presence of great artists and filmmakers, who came to share their passion and their know-how with the public. Cinema legends such as Faye Dunaway, Wim Wenders, Sylvia Chang, Costa-Gavras, Raymond Depardon, Rom Howard and many others, join the celebration, offering unique perspectives on their work and on the evolution of the film industry.
Exploration and reflection: captivating documentaries
In addition to restored masterpieces, Cannes Classics offers a selection of captivating documentaries, offering intimate looks about emblematic personalities of the world of cinema. Detailed portraits of figures such as Faye Dunaway, Jim Henson, or Elizabeth Taylor, offer a fascinating overview of their lives and their impact on cinematographic art.
The varied programming of CANNES Classics 2024 offers a dive into the history of cinema, offering festival -goers a real odyssey through eras and cultures. Let us discover together the list of projected films and the speakers who will enrich this special edition:
- Gilda (1946)-Charles Vidor (United States)
- Paris, Texas (1984) – Wim Wenders (West/France Germany)
- The truth is revolutionary – the confession (2024) – Directed by Yannick Kergoat, written by Edwy Plenel (France)
- Scenarios (2024)-Jean-Luc Godard (France/Japan)
- The Seven Samurai (1954) – Akira Kurosawa (Japan)
- Law and Order (1969)-Frederick Wiseman (United States)
- The click years (1984) – Raymond Depardon (France)
- Bye Bye Brasil (1970) – Carlos Diegues (Brazil)
- Cherbourg umbrellas (1964) – Jacques Demy (France)
- Faye (2024)-Laurent Bouzereau (United States)
- Jim Henson Idea Man (2024)-Ron Howard (United States)
- Walking in the movies (2024) – Lyang Kim (South Korea)
- Jacques Rozier, from one wave to another (2024) – Emmanuel Barnault (France)
- Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes (2024)-Nanette Burstein (United States)
- François Truffaut, the script for my life (2024) – David Teboul (France)
- Once upon a time Michel Legrand (2024) – David Hertzog Dessites (France)
- Rape on the first page (1972) – Marco Bellocchio (Italy/France)
- The Sugarland Express (1974)-Steven Spielberg (United States)
- Thiaroye camp (1988) – Ousmane Sembene and Thierno Faty Sow (Senegal/Algeria/Tunisia)
- The Shadow Army (1969)-Jean-Pierre Melville (France)
- Johnny GOT HIS GUN (1971)-Dalton Trumbo (United States)
- Rosora at the 10 (1958) – Mario Soffici (Argentina)
- Tasio (1984) – Montxo Armendáriz (Spain)
- The Rose de la Mer (1947) – Jacques de Baroncelli (France)
- Bona (1980) – Lino Brocka (Philippines)
- Manthan (1976) – Shyam Benegal (India)
- Shanghai Blues (1984) – Tsui Hark (Hong Kong)
- Four nights of a dreamer (1971) – Robert Bresson (France/Italy)
- Napoleon by Abel Gance (1927) – Abel Gance (France)
These films, carefully restored and presented in all their splendor, offer a unique opportunity to discover or rediscover masterpieces of world cinema.
Neïla Driss
