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Spike Leegot this year’s Cannes Film Festival awards ceremony off to a rousing start.
Although the audience gasped at the mix-up and Lee was somewhat embarrassed, there were no hard feelings from Ducournau, who’s only the second female filmmaker to ever earn the esteem, after Jane Campion’sThe Pianowon in 1993.
Leelater apologized, saying he “messed up, simple as that. And I was very specific to speak to the people ofTitane… I apologized, they said, ‘Forget about it, Spike.’ So, that means a lot to me.” His fellow jury memberMaggie Gyllenhaalhad his back,saying that the error"was like an injection of humanity into the middle of the ceremony," according to Deadline.
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Titanecenters on a young woman who has an unusual relationship with cars after surviving an accident as a child. Although critics were divided on the film from the director ofRaw, the jury — which also consists of directors Mati Diop, Kleber Mendonça Filho, Jessica Hausner, actors Mélanie Laurent, Tahar Rahim, Song Kang-ho and singer/songwriter Mylène Farmer — voted to award the film the top prize.
Leealmost rushed the announcement againlater in the event, beforeSharon Stonewas scheduled to present the award.
“In 63 years of life I’ve learned that people get a second chance, this is my second chance,” he prefaced. “I apologize for messing up. It took a lot of suspense out of the night I understand, it wasn’t on purpose.” Luckily, Dillier stopped him before Stone took the stage.
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TheBlacKkKlansmandirectorwas named jury presidentof the Cannes Film Festival last January, becoming the first Black person to head the prestigious panel.
“When I got the call…I was shocked, happy, surprised and proud all at the same time,” Lee said at the time. “I’m honored to be the first person of the African diaspora (USA) to be named President of the Cannes Jury and of a main film festival.”
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source: people.com
