Cannes, 5/18.

Geoffrey Macnab, blogging for the Guardian, passes along Michael Haneke's explanation for why his shot-for-shot English-language remake of his own Funny Games is not at Cannes and then hears early word of the Austrian's next project, The White Ribbon, "a rare foray into costume drama... set during the death throes of the Austro-Hungarian empire. Jean-Claude Carrière (the revered screenwriter known for his work with directors like Luis Buñuel, Milos Forman and Nagisa Oshima) has been helping trim the screenplay. The producer is Margaret Menegoz (who works regularly with Eric Rohmer.)"

Remember the "5 Amigos?" The deal's come through, as Peter Knegt reports for indieWIRE: "Acclaimed filmmakers Alfonso Cuarón (Children of Men), Guillermo del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth) and Alejandro González Iñárritu (Babel) are forming cha cha cha, a unique production partnership debuting with a Cannes market project. Cha cha cha is partnering with Universal Pictures and its Focus Features International unit for financing, international sales and distribution on an upcoming slate of five films. The new projects include directorial efforts for all three men, as well as new films from writer/directors Carlos Cuarón (Alfonso's brother) and Rodrigo García.... Carlos Cuarón's film, Rudo y Cursi, is currently being sold at the market in Cannes and will star Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna."

Variety's Lisa Nesselson asks a handful of critics who've been attending the festival for years to recall a few highlights.

IndieWIRE's latest Atelier interview: Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige (I Can't Go Home).

Posted by dwhudson at May 18, 2007 7:37 AM