The 36th installment of the Deauville American Film Festival, set to run from September 3-12, 2010, has announced nearly all of the films in its competition (one or two may be added before the opening date. In addition to its competition slate, its documentary section, and its American Nights programming, the fest will be adding a section for television this year, Deauville Season 1, with the intentions of become a professional event for TV scriptwriting. The films in competition will be eligible for the Feature Film award, decided by a jury led by French actress Emmanuelle Beart, and the Cartier Most Promising Newcomer Award, whose jury is led by director-screenwriter Manuel Pradal.
The list of competition films announced (with descriptions provided by the festival):
“Abel,” Diego Luna
Starring Christopher Ruíz-Esparza, Gerardo Ruíz-Esparza, José Maria Yazpik, Karina Gidi, Geraldine Alejandra, Carlos Aragon
Abel, a nine-year old boy, has stopped talking since his father left home. One morning he starts to speak again, pretending to be the head of the family. No one dares to challenge this miracle. One day a man shows up at the door: his father.
“Buried,” Rodrigo Cortés
Starring Ryan Reynolds, Ivana Miño, Stephen Tobolowsky, Samantha Mathis, Robert Paterson, José
Luis Garcia Pérez
Open your eyes. You’re in a closed space beneath 2500 pounds of Iraqi soil, have 90 minutes of oxygen left to breathe, and your only connection to the outside world is a mysterious cell phone with limited reception and battery life. Such is Paul’s fate, an American contractor in Iraq being held hostage in a box. He barely has time to figure out what’s going on. Each second is a second closer to death…”
“Cyrus,” Jay & Mark Duplass
Starring John C. Reilly, Jonah Hill, Marisa Tomei, Catherine Keener, Matt Walsh, Diane Mizota, Kathy
Ann Wittes
With John’s social life at a standstill and his ex-wife about to get remarried, the down on his luck divorcé finally meets Molly, the woman of his dreams, only to discover she has another man in her life – her son Cyrus. Before long, John and Cyrus are locked in a battle of wits for the woman they both love.
“Holy Rollers,” Kevin Asch
Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Justin Bartha, Ari Graynor, Danny Abeckaser, Q-Tip, Mark Ivanir
In the late nineties, Hasidic Jews were recruited as mules to transport without knowing it a million of ecstasy pills from Amsterdam to New York. Sam Gold, twenty years old, is one of them. Reluctantly following the path his family has chosen for him, he accepts the proposal of his neighbour Yosef to transport “medicine” in exchange for payment. Sam quickly demonstrates his business skill to his bosses, who instantly take him under their wing.
“Mother and Child,” Rodrigo Garcia
Starring Annette Bening, Naomi Watts, Kerry Washington, Samuel L. Jackson, Jimmy Smits
Karen was fourteen when she became pregnant and was forced to give her baby up for adoption. It was thirty five years ago… Today, Karen’s daughter, Elizabeth, is a brilliant lawyer. She never tried to find her biological mother’s trace until the day she expects a baby. Lucy sees her dream of adopting a child finally come true. Simultaneously confronted with key choices in their lives, these three women will see their destinies cross unexpectedly.
“The Dry Land,” Ryan Piers Williams
Starring Ryan O’Nan, America Ferrera, Wilmer Valderrama, Jason Ritter, Melissa Leo
James, a young US soldier, returns from Iraq to face a new battle – reintegrating into his small-town life in Texas. His wife, his mother and his best friend provide support, but they can’t fully understand the pain he feels since his tour of duty ended. Lonely, James reconnects with an army buddy, who provides him with compassion during his battle to process his experiences in Iraq.
“The Joneses,” Derrick Borte
Starring Demi Moore, David Duchovny, Amber Heard, Ben Hollingsworth, Gary Cole, Glenne Headly
When the Joneses move into a posh neighbourhood of an American small town, they seem to be the ideal family. Not only are they charming people, but they also have better goods and game than any other family in town. The only problem is they’re not a family: they are employees of a stealth marketing organization and they know how to make everyone else want what they’ve got…
“The Myth of the American Sleepover,” David Robert Mitchell
Starring Claire Sloma, Marlon Morton, Amanda Bauer, Brett Jacobsen, Nikita Ramsey, Jade Ramsey, Amy Seimetz, Doug Diedrich, Olivia Coté
Set against the backdrop of metro-Detroit, Maggie, Rob, Claudia and Scott are searching for love and adventure on the last night of summer. The four young people cross paths as they explore the suburban wonderland chasing first kisses, elusive crushes, popularity and parties. They are looking for the iconic teenage experience, but instead they discover the quiet moments that will later become the part of their youth.
“Two Gates of Sleep,” Alistair Banks Griffin
Starring Brady Corbet, David Call, Karen Young, Ritchie Montgomery, Lindsay Soileau, Ross Francis
After preparing for their mother’s imminent death, two brothers go on an arduous upriver journey to honour her final request.
“Welcome to the Rileys,” Jack Scott
Starring Kristen Stewart, James Gandolfini, Melissa Leo, Joe Chrest, Ally Sheedy, Tiffany Coty
While at a business convention in New Orleans, Doug Riley encounters Mallory, a young woman working in a strip club. He becomes fond of her almost like a father in substitution of his only daughter who died in a tragic accident eight years ago. This unlikely encounter shatters Doug’s couple.
“Winter’s Bone,” Debra Granik
Starring Jennifer Lawrence, John Hawkes, Kevin Breznahan, Dale Dickey, Garret Dillahunt, Sheryl Lee, Lauren Sweetser, Tate Taylor
Seventeen-year-old Ree Dolly lives alone in the Ozark woods with her brother and sister. When her father
is released from jail and disappears without a trace, she has no other choice than embarking on a mission
to find him or she will lose the family house he used as a way of securing his bail. Ree must challenge her
outlaw kin’s code of silence and face the people living in the Missouri forests.
For more information, check out Deauville’s official site.
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