The Camera d’Or (golden camera) is one of several sidebars at the Cannes Film Festival. It has just announced a surprising duo to co-preside the 2024 jury: actress Emmanuelle Béart and musician/director Baloji.
The Caméra d’Or was first awarded in 1978. It recognizes a remarkable first film presented in the Official Selection, the Critics’ Week or the Directors’ Fortnight. The idea is to encourage young creators, by throwing a spotlight on movies that might otherwise get lost among the many gems that Cannes finds each year. In the past, awards have gone to Jim Jarmusch, Jafar Panahi, Ildikó Enyedi, Steve McQueen, Anthony Chen and Pham Thien An (in 2023).
The duo presiding the 2024 edition is surprising. Emmanuelle Béart needs little introduction, but I’ll give one anyway. First revealed as the radiant daughter in Claude Berri’s “Manon des Sources” in 1986, she has starred in “La belle noiseuse”, “J’embrasse pas”, “Mission Impossible” (1996) and more recently “Les passagers de la nuit”.
She has also appeared many times in French theatre and proven to be an outspoken guest on television shows. She also wrote and directed “Un silence si bruyant”.
The Camera d’Or wild card: Baloji
The other co-president of the Camera d’Or, Baloji, is less well known but a formidable talent nonetheless. The Congolese is an award-winning musician, filmmaker and polymath artist that works as a distinctive art director, costume designer for fashion and other visual art forms.
He first came to the media’s attention in Belgium as part of the Starflam rap group (at age 15). The group went on to record several maxis and win awards. Baloji eventually went solo, combining Congolese music with his clever but deadpan rap.
In parallel, he worked as an art director and produced several shorts, including “Zombies” (2019). This was followed by the award-winning “Omen/Augures” in 2023 which despite a very difficult production was nominated for multiple awards after a noted screening at the Certain Regard sidebar at Cannes.
The pairing of Baloji and Béart is surprising at another level, as the pair have never met.
The Cannes Film Festival runs from May 14-25 2024.