Bercot to become the first female director to open San Sebastian.
Emmanuelle Bercot’s 150 Milligrams (La fille de Brest) is to receive its European premiere as the opening film of the 64th San Sebastian film festival (Sept 16-24) - making it the first film directed by a woman to open the festival since its launch in 1952.
Based on Irène Frachon’s autobiographical book Mediator 150mg, the film centres on a doctor who discovered the direct relationship between a drug and a number of suspicious deaths, and sets out to reveal the truth.
Danish actress Sidse Babett Knudsen (Borgen) and French actor Benoît Magimel (La Haine) star in the film, which will world premiere at Toronto before going on to play in competition for the Golden Shell at San Sebastian.
It marks the fifth feature from French film-maker Bercot, whose Standing Tall (La Tête haute) opened Cannes last year, where she also won best actress for her role in Maïwenn’s Mon Roi.
Her actors have also won coveted awards, with Knudsen having won the Best Supporting Actress César for her part in Christian Vincent’s L’Hermine (Courted), and Magimel picking up Best Actor in Cannes for The Piano Teacher and the Best Supporting Actor César for his part in Bercot’s previous film Standing Tall.
150 Milligrams is a Haut et Court production. Wild Bunch handles sales. Caramel will release the film in Spain this December.
Ethan Hawke to receive Donostia Award
US actor Ethan Hawke is to be honoured with a Donostia Award at this year’s San Sebastian.
The award will be presented to the Before Sunrise and Training Day star on Sept 17 in a ceremony celebrating his three decade-long career prior to the festival’s gala screening of The Magnificent Seven.
Last year, the festival opened with Alejandro Amenábar’s Regression, starring Hawke, who was unable to attend due to his filming commitments on The Magnificent Seven.
No comments yet