CANNES FILM FESTIVAL

Tied with Olivier Assayas for Personal Shopper (2016).

Tied with Cristian Mungiu for Graduation (2016).

Tied with The Guilt, Probably (2016) for third place.

Tied with The Noise of Licking (2016) for third place.

In MERCENAIRE, Sacha Wolff has made a really powerful and original first feature. The story is simple and direct, and all the stronger for that. A boy is enticed to leave his home and culture in New Caledonia to go and play rugby in France. There he becomes a man, but at a price. Stand out elements in MERCENAIRE are the great script, excellent camerawork and the great performances by the non-professional cast. A very worthy winner of the Europa Cinemas Label at this year's Cannes.

We decided to award the bravest and truly innovative film in selection. This beautiful adventure gave us the opportunity to discover a hybrid film constructed from sweet fairy tales, mysterious fantasies, touchingly portrayed real life, inspiring dreams, unique culture traditions in stunning and calm landscapes just before chaos and war. The young and talented director amazed us with convincing and spontanious performances by joyful kids and friendly animals. With this award we want to encourage European producers, investors and decision makers to believe in promising directors from such rarely seen countries in cinema. The CICAE Art Cinema Award goes to Ms. Shahrbanoo Sadat from far away Afghanistan for her powerful WOLF AND SHEEP.

A film gorgeously crafted, made with a fresh and a sensitive approach, that captures the complex relationship between father and daughter and comments on the lunacy of today's world.

A promising first feature that skillfully mixes crime and western genres, giving us insight into conflicts of contemporary Romania.

What cannot be said by words can be communicated by the face, rendered transcendental by Xavier Dolan's filming. In what is not said, the screams and the looks, we find the history of a family where love is unspoken and where people yell not to reveal what is essential. Upon his return Louis, the prodigal son who came to announce his impending death, chooses instead to inspire love and hope to his relatives.

A road-movie that gives a loving glimpse of a forgotten youth, a "sales crew" travelling from town to town. It shows their ability of inner strength and dignity, while at the same time providing a social seismograph of various segments of society. It is a threefold journey: a journey of the crew, a journey from wealth to poverty and an inner journey of each of the protagonists, Star and Jake haven't lost their ability to dream and to transform themselves.

Sustained by the great artistic qualities of the director, this movie portrays a man at the end of his life, who puts his own suffering aside to be of service to a family challenged by marginalization and poverty. Like a Good Samaritan, he brings them the attention and affection that are as necessary to human beings as material needs.