Natalie Portman and Jude Law refused to participate in the Deauville festival

The 49th edition of the Deauville American Film Festival will be held without Natalie Portman, Jude Law, Peter Dinklage and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Four actors were actually supposed to be there for the rest of their careers, but the actors’ strike obliges: they have now canceled their participation.

The festival’s artistic director, Bruno Barde, told Variety (via Le Figaro) that he supports the striking actors and screenwriters, especially speaking about the dangers of artificial intelligence, one of the topics widely discussed during this strike.

“Artificial intelligence has always existed in cinema, and today it threatens screenwriters, set designers, stuntmen, and of course the actors whose image we use. Cinema is an art that elevates humanity, and artificial intelligence is the opposite. This is a threat.“

maintaining tributes

But if he stands in solidarity with the strike, the director chose to honor the careers of the aforementioned actors:

I want the American film community to understand that continuing the tribute does not mean that I am not interested in going on strike. On the contrary, I support and I would never want to deprive the actors and actresses of this tribute because they are not coming because of this strike.

To compensate for this absence, Bruno Bard has invited a host of filmmakers and international talent, such as French director Rebecca Zlotovsky, who will present Natalie Portman which he directed at the planetarium. Several films featuring the actress will also be screened from May through December in the presence of her director, Todd Haynes. American film director Jerry Shatzberg will also participate in the festival.

Bruno Bard admitted that although he hoped the comedians would be able to obtain a temporary permit from SAG-AFTRA, “Those who asked did not receive“. “Strange“, he said, “Because the guidelines were very clear that if you receive a tribute that is not related to the film, you can travel. All the tributes I’m going to do are not related to movies“. but, “Obviously, the festival shows their films as part of a joke. It doesn’t make sense to honor Natalie Portman and not show May December as part of six or seven movies like I did.“, he added.

The festival will also screen The Queen’s Game and She Came to Me, the latest feature films from Georgia’s filmography. Jude Law and Peter Dinklage.

Guaranteed inheritance

If many French actors, members of SAG, also canceled the visit, the succession will be ensured by the directors whose guild is not on strike and even signed a new contract with the studios: thus, 24 filmmakers will attend. Compared to the 60 films that will be shown. The guest list will be announced next week.

We also have to consider independent films that were able to get an exception so that their actors could attend the festival, such as Luc Besson’s drama Dogman, which was also in competition at the Venice Film Festival. Actor Caleb Landry Jones (Interpretation Prize at Cannes) could also attend the events Luc Besson will also hold a masterclass in Deauville, apparently accompanied by Carol Bouquet. Judith Godrech will also be there to present the semi-autobiographical comedy Icon of French Cinema, coming soon to Arte. This is his first series.

The Deauville Festival will be held from September 1 to 10, 2023.