Mouret takes top Lumière honours

Camélia Jordan and Vincent Macaigne in Emmanuel Mouret’s award-winning Love Affair(s) Photo: Moby Dick Films

Voters in France’s Lumière awards, comprising international journalists based in France, which are regarded as a pertinent precursor to the Césars (the Oscar equivalent), have selected Emmanuel Mouret’s Love Affair(s)/Les Choses qu’on dit, les choses qu’on fait as the best film of the year.

Mouret continues his exploration of the trials and tribulations of the heart, soul and passion in a series of inter-linked tales featuring such acting talent as Vincent Macaigne, Camélia Jordana, Emilie Duquenne, Guillaume Gouix and Niels Schneider.

Emmanuel Mouret, director of best film in Lumière Awards Photo: UniFrance

The best director gong went to Maïwenn for her fifth feature DNA in which she also stars alongside Fanny Ardant and Louis Garrel in family melodrama revolving around cultural identity and roots.

Stéphane Demoustier was named for screenplay for The Girl with A Bracelet, a gripping courtroom drama with Roschdy Zem and Chiara Mastroianni.

A documentary about undue force allegedly used by the police The Monopoly Of Violence by David Dufresne which makes a timely appearance, was recognised as best documentary.

A debut feature Josep by celebrated cartoonist Aurel won two awards for best animation and best music [for Silvia Pérez Cruz].

The best actress award in what are often seen as France’s answer to the Golden Globes was shared by Martine Chevallier and Barbara Sukowa for The Two of Us / Deux which has been chosen as France’s Oscar submission. Director Filippo Meneghetti who looks at the relationship between two women of a certain age who try to keep their love affair secret from family and friends, was recognised for best first film.

Tunisian-French actor Sami Bouajila took home the best actor Lumiere Award for his performance in Mehdi Barsaoui’s A Son while Tunisian film-maker Kaouther Ben Hania’s The Man Who Sold his Skin received the International Coproduction Lumiere Award. Bouajila’s prize for A Son adds to his accomplished decades-long film career, which includes award-winning performances in films including Days of Glory (2006) and The Witnesses (2008).

Louis Garrel and Maïwenn in DNA - the actress won best director award Photo: UniFrance

Noée Abita was named most promising actress for her portrayal as a young skier who attracts the unwelcoming attentions of her coach in Charlene Favier’s debit feature Slalom while the protagonists in François Ozon’s free-wheeling Summer of 85 Félix Lefebvre and Benjamin Voisin shared most promising newcomer accolade. Ozon’s film also won best director of photography for Hichame Alaouié.

The deliberations of the 123 voting members from 36 countries were led by American journalist Lisa Nesselson, president of the Académie des Lumières.

The Lumière awards in full:

• Best Film: Love Affair(s) by Emmanuel Mouret
• Best Director: Maïwenn for DNA
• Best Screenplay: Stéphane Demoustier for The Girl With A Bracelet
• Best Documentary: The Monopoly Of Violence by David Dufresne
• Best Animated Film: Josep by Aurel
• Best Actress: Martine Chevallier and Barbara Sukowa in Two Of Us
• Best Actor: Sami Bouajila in A Son
• Most Promising Actress: Noée Abita in Slalom
• Most Promising Actor: Félix Lefebvre and Benjamin Voisin in Summer of 85
• Best First Film: Two of Us by Filippo Meneghetti
• Best International Co-production: The Man Who Sold His Skin by Kaouther Ben Hania
• Best Director of Photography: Hichame Alaouié for Summer Of 85
• Best Music: Silvia Pérez Cruz for Josep
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