First-time director Thomas Cailley’s “Love at First Fight” (“Les Combattants”) was named the best film at Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight section, organizers announced on Friday.
The comedy won the section’s Art Cinema Award, its SACD Prize for French-language films and its Europa Cinemas Label honor for European entries, making it the first film to sweep all three categories.
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It also won the separate FIPRESCI award, given by the international critics’ association, for the best film in any independent section at the festival.
Directors’ Fortnight is an independent section that runs concurrently with the Cannes Film Festival. This year’s lineup consisted of 17 films, including John Boorman’s “Queen and Country,” Frederick Wiseman’s “National Gallery,” Diego Lerman’s “Refugiado” and two Sundance favorites, Jim Mickle‘s “Cold in July” and Damien Chazelle‘s “Whiplash.”
The Palme d’Or and other major Cannes awards will be announced by the main competition jury at an awards ceremony on Saturday.