Afghan film wins Directors’ Fortnight

Wolf and Sheep follows a group of children who work as shepherds Photo: Courtesy of Directors' Fortnight

Shahrbanoo Sadat's documentary drama Wolf And Sheep has scooped the top prize in the Cannes Film Festival’s Directors’ Fortnight selection. The prizes were announced yesterday evening (May 20).

The Afghanistan village where the director Sadat grew up and follows a group of young children who work as shepherds. It was universally praised for its mix of ethnography and fantasy.

Sólveig Aspach’s The Together Project (L’Effet acquatique), a comedy from the French-Icelandic director was awarded the SACD prize. It’s about a man who pretends he is unable to swim so that he can hook up with the lifeguard with whom he has become besotted.

Toki Pilioko plays a rugby player who journeys to France to being a professional rugby career in Mercenaire Photo: Courtesy of Directors' Fortnight

The Europa Cinemas award, which aims to promote European films through its network, was given to Mercenaire, directed by Sacha Wolff, about Soane (Toki Pilioko), originally from the other side of the world, born in Wallis and Futuna (a French overseas territory, located somewhere between New Caledonia and Tahiti) who journeys from the antipodes to start his professional rugby union career in mainland France.

The Illy prize for best short film went to Chasse Royale, directed by Lise Akoka and Romane Gueret. A special mention was made for The Beast (Zvir), directed by Miroslav Sikavica.

Cannes Film Festival’s main competition awards including the Palme d’Or winner will be announced tomorrow evening (May 22) at a glittering awards ceremony in the Grande Théâtre Lumière.