Winning from afar and other Cannes tales

Cannes - 28 May 2017 : The Cannes film festival - the world's greatest movie showcase - celebrates its 70th anniversary this year.

AFP asked actors and directors who made their names at the festival to recount their highs and lows at the star-studded event.

Serbian director Emir Kusturica's strongest memory of Cannes took place in Sarajevo where he watched the ceremony from afar. His film 'When Father was Away on Business' won the Palme d'Or competition in 1985.

"We first understood we did not win anything... then Milos Forman announced in French that we won unanimously," he says.

"Our reaction was then more than powerful. To win unanimously in Cannes, it's not easy, especially for someone who was not there."


French actress Clementine Celarie first attended Cannes in 1993 for her role in "Toxic Affair" directed by Philomene Esposito.

"I was pregnant. What a big moment on the steps! I've been a number of times since then," she says.

Her best memory is of a party thrown by Emir Kusturica for his film "Underground", with his gypsy musician friends in 1995.

She wore a dress by the French fashion designer Thierry Mugler.

"I ripped off the bottom in order to dance with them. We had reason to party: Kusturica left with the Palme d'Or! I have an absolutely crazy memory of that night."
"I adore Cannes... It's lovely to see all the international actresses and actors."

Russian director Pavel Lungin, 67, who won the best director award with his film "Taxi blues" in 1990 says the festival was more authentic than he had expected.

"I didn't expect so much authenticity in an event meant to be so glamourous. I was struck by the atmosphere of simplicity and love for cinema," he says.

He remembers being congratulated by celebrities he encountered on the city's famous Croisette boulevard, including Italian directors the Taviani brothers and German actress Nastassja Kinski.

"At the time it was a folksy film party, without the security forces that are omnipresent," he says.

"The prize for best director handed to me by (Bernardo) Bertolucci, ended up changing my life," he adds.