Alumni Leigh hoping for Cannes success
Mike Leigh, will compete for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, after having mixed reactions from the prestigious film festival in past years.
Leigh will be the only British director running for the Palme d’Or at the festival, which runs from 12 – 23 May, with his most recent work, Another Year.
After attending Central School of Art, now Central Saint Martins, to study Theatre Design, Leigh has gone on to become a very successful director.
His recent films include Life is Sweet, Secrets and Lies, The Gilbert and Sullivan Tale, Topsy-Turvey, and the controversial Vera Drake.
Leigh is also Honorary Fellow and former University of the Arts London Visiting Professor.
The film is a comedy drama starring Imelda Staunton and Jim Broadbent, and is among 16 films competing for the award. Further details about the film are being kept under wraps.
In 2004, Cannes international festival snubbed Leigh’s abortion drama, Vera Drake, finding it unworthy of nomination. It went on to win three Baftas, three Oscar nominations and the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival.
Leigh mischeivously dedicated his award to the Cannes selectors and thanked them "for rejecting this film so we might be here this evening".
Despite controversy Leigh has experienced previous success and recognition in Cannes, having won the grand prize in 1996 for Secrets and Lies and was also named best director for Naked three years earlier.
Another Year will be shown alongside the world premiere of Ridley Scott's Robin Hood, which is opening the festival but is not up for an award.
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