His second year at the infamous festival has been a good one – 21-year-old filmmaking phenomenon Xavier Dolan won the Regards Jeunes prize for “Les amours imaginaires (Heartbeats)” last Saturday at the Cannes Film Fest. The honour was bestowed upon him after a European jury of seven young cinephiles chose the Quebecker’s second project for the prize. Dolan wrote, directed and starred in the flick about a love triangle between two friends, Francis and Marie, who are in love with the same man.
Dolan’s debut feature “J’ai tué ma mère (I Killed my Mother)” won an impressive three awards at 2009’s Cannes Film Fest. However, the young filmmaker’s second title was overlooked at this year’s Genie Awards, much to the surprise of critics, who raved about “Les amours imaginaires (Heartbeats).” And, as expected (and hoped for), Cannes gave the flick the praise it deserved with the Regards Jeunes prize.
“I’ve been in interviews the whole day so I’m just starting to read the reviews," Dolan told The Canadian Press on Sunday following the screening of his film, which received a standing ovation. "But the public reception was really warm, it was very moving."
Other notable Canadians attending Cannes included Atom Egoyan, who made his ninth appearance at the coveted festival, as well as 27-year-old Halifax director Noah Pink, whose film “Zed/Crew” was a part of the short program of the Directors’ Fortnight.
“Les amours imaginaires (Heartbeats)” will premiere in Quebec theatres on June 11th and nationwide in the fall.
