Molly Manning Walker’s “How to Have Sex” was named best film Friday in the Un Certain Regard competition at the Cannes Film Festival.
The British director’s debut feature tells the story of three girls on vacation in Greece. The girl who is still a virgin hopes to have slept with a boy when she finishes her trip, just like her two friends. She ends up losing her virginity to a guy on the beach, but she pulls out in the process. The boy then makes unwanted advances on her while she is asleep. She wakes up to him ready to have sex with her and resigns himself to her once more.
Mia McKenna-Bruce stars.
This year’s Un Certain Regard competition included 20 feature films, eight of which are also competing for the Camera d’or. The jury, chaired by actor John C. Reilly, was made up of French director and screenwriter Alice Winocour, German actress Paula Beer, Franco-Cambodian director and producer Davy Chou and Belgian actress Émilie Dequenne.
“Augure (Omen),” directed by Baloji, won the competition’s New Voice Award. “Crowrã (La Flor de Buriti)” by João Salaviza and Renée Nader Messora won the Ensemble Award. Goodbye Julia, directed by Mohamed Kordofani, won the Freedom Prize. Asmae El Moudir won the Directing Prize and the Jury Prize went to “Les Meutes (Hounds)” directed by Kamal Lazrag.
Playwright and actor Jeremy O. Harris tweeted that Walker was late for the ceremony, capturing jury foreman Reilly singing for the audience until Walker arrived, running into the ballroom.
Un Certain Regard will close with the world premiere of “Une Nuit (Strangers By Night)”, directed by Alex Lutz after the awards ceremony.
The Cannes closing ceremony takes place on Saturday, with Peter Sohn’s “Elemental” to conclude as the last official screening of the festival.
There were standing ovations at the festival for Wes Anderson’s “Asteroid City,” Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon,” “Indiana Jones” Dial of Destiny” starring Harrison Ford and “Jeanne du Barry” starring Johnny Depp.
