Though the In Competition awards have yet to be handed out at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, hardware has still been bestowed amongst a group of the fest’s showings, thanks to the Critics Week awards, which were handed out by a Lee Chang-Dong-headed jury. The Michael Shannon-starring Take Shelter, writer-director Jeff Nichols‘ follow-up to his acclaimed Shotgun Stories, took home the Grand Prize, while subservient honors and mentions were given to the Aussie serial killer drama Snowtown, as well as Pablo Giorgelli‘s Las Acacias. [The Hollywood Reporter]
We reviewed the film at its premiere at Sundance Film Festival this year and you can read it here. The Cannes closing award ceremony will be held on May 22. A small number of favorites have revealed themselves — Tilda Swinton (We Need to Talk About Kevin) has been lauded in all corners, while Nicolas Wending Refn‘s Drive recently made an impressive late surge — but there should be a good deal of surprises when the envelopes are finally opened. In Contention‘s Guy Lodge believes that Le Havre, however, is the frontrunner for the top prize.
What do you think of the first round of awards? Do you have any predictions for the In Competition awards?