A breath of fresh air
La Semaine de la Critique has steadfastly remained true to its tradition of discovering new talents. It was conceived by the French Union of Film Critics in 1962 to showcase first and second feature films by directors from all over the world. La Semaine discovered Bernardo Bertolucci, Ken Loach, Wong Kar Wai, Jacques Audiard, Arnaud Desplechin, Gaspar Noé or François Ozon and most recently Alejandro Gonzalez Iñarritu (who later directed 21 grams and Babel, Emanuele Crialese (Respiro and Golden Door), Julie Bertuccelli (awarded by the Cesar for best first feature film with Since Otar Left) Lucía Puenzo (XXY) and Juan Antonio Bayona (El orfanato).

La Semaine de la Critique presents a highly selective program of seven feature films and seven shorts films in competition so that each film can get a greater visibility. The Grand Prix de la Semaine de la Critique is awarded by the French and international press (journalists and film critics are invited to vote after each screening of the Selection). The feature films directed by first-time feature filmmakers also run for the Caméra d’Or (or Golden Camera, award for best first feature film amongst all sections of the festival). For the last six years, la Semaine has been under the spotlights by winning four Caméra d’Or – Reconstruction by Cristoffer Boe (2003), Or by Keren Yedaya (2004), Me and You and Everyone We Know by Miranda July (2005) and Meduzot by Etgar Keret & Shira Geffen (2007) – and one Special Distinction, Everybody Dies But Me by Valeria Gaï Guermanika (2008)

Being attentive to new forms, la Semaine welcomes special screenings dedicated to original productions and dedicates a very special spot for medium-length and short films. Open to the general audience for whom it multiplies screenings and Q&A with the directors, la Semaine also organizes “The (Very) Young Critics”. With this operation, about thirty high school students from France and Germany work together around film critic.