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| Rithy Panh - president of the documentary jury in Cannes |
For the first time this year the Cannes Film Festival will embrace a prize for the best documentary called The Golden Eye (L’Oeil d’or) which recognises the upsurge in the documentary tradition.
Director Julie Bertuccelli, who was responsible for initiating the new honour, said: “Cinema was born through documentaries. Now they are becoming ever more popular among general audiences as well as the critics - and they have a bigger presence in festivals. That’s why we felt it was important for them to be properly recognised at Cannes and to have a dedicated prize for documentaries.”
The prize, which will cover all sections of the Festival, will be decided by a jury made up of
- Rithy Panh (Jury president), from Cambodia and France - Nicolas Philibert, director from France - Irène Jacob, actress from France - Diana El Jeiroudi, Syrian producer - Scott Foundas, critic from Variety.
The new initiative which has the backing of artistic director Thierry Fremaux, will be awarded on Saturday 23 May, and has a sum of 5000 euros attached.
