Charlie Polinger’s debut, “The Plague,” a psychological thriller starring Joel Edgerton, won the grand prize in the 51st edition of the Deauville American Film Festival, which is wrapped in the town of Normandy, France tonight.
The film was held in Cannes, where it received solid reviews. It’s a story about a shy teenager dealing with vicious bullying while attending all boys’ water polo camps. AGC Studios was acquired by an independent film company for distribution in North America while handling international sales. Edgerton, who was in Deauville this week, announced the Netflix film “Train Dreams,” received praise and produced “The Plague.”
The ju judge, which was mainly sided by French-Iranian actor Golsife Farahani, handed over two ju judge awards, “Ormo,” directed by Fernando Einbuque and “Ormo,” in Cole Webry’s “Omaha.”
Produced by Plan B (Media One Company) and Michel Franco, “Olmo” follows the journey of a Mexican-American family through the eyes of a 14-year-old teenager trapped in a home caring for his bedridden father. The world of film premiered at the Berlin Film Festival.
Meanwhile, “Omaha” is a road trip drama that premiered at Sundance, revolving around a struggling widow who takes his child on an unexpected cross-country road trip after a family tragedy.
Kristen Stewart’s “The Chronology of Water” won the Revelation Award, while Scarlett Johansson’s “Eleanor the Great” won the audience’s nod.
Opened in Cannes, Eleanor The Great is a heartwarming drama starring Squibb in June as a 90-year-old woman trying to rebuild her best friend’s life after the death of her best friend. The film, Johansson’s directorial debut, has earned warm reviews at Cannes and marks the first partnership between Sony Pictures Classic and Tristar Pictures.
Based on a memoir of the same name by Lidia Yuknavitch, “The Chronology of Water” follows a woman (Imogen’s Poo) who emerges from an abusive childhood, leading her trauma into competitive swimming, sexual exploration, toxic relationships, and addiction, and ultimately discovers her voice as a writer.
Stewart, who attended the Deauville Masterclass earlier today, highlighted the French films that influenced her as an actor and filmmaker, said it took eight years to go on stage to accept her awards and make the film.
“It was enough to be allowed to even make this film,” she said after apologizing for not speaking French. “I understand that it’s a common story that makes it impossible for the first filmmakers to do so, but the difficult battle with this felt very personal, not for me, not for me, but for the girls.”
“And we know that it is the subject and form, but that’s because we were trying to make a film about the bleeding needed to unearth the voice in a world that was brilliantly designed to silence us.
Premiered in Cannes’ UN’s specific tribute, “Water Timeline,” was produced primarily by Charles Gillibert of CG Cinema International, based in Paris, and was acquired by Forge for US distribution.
Farahani, whose ju-described deliberate consists of Thomas Kylie, I Haidara, Catel Kylevere, Philippine Leroy Bilieu, Vincent McCoinu, Benjamin Milpede and Emily Tronsch, gave a poignant speech about her dealing with political uprisings in the United States and having fought in another part of the world.
“This year, more than ever, American films have appeared to us as fractured mirrors of the world’s condition,” she said. “An image emerged through the film we saw, chosen and passionately discussed: an image of a vast, powerful country that falls free from its foundations. America fails not through the lack of creativity, but through the abandonment of what makes society.”
The ceremony was followed by special screenings of “Private Life,” including the humorous psychological thriller of Rebecca Zlotowski, starring Jodie Foster and Daniel Outeil. The film was acquired by Sony Pictures Classics and is one of five films that the French Oscar Committee for International Feature Film Race has been finalized.
The winners of the 2025 Deauville Film Festival are:
Grand Prize
“Plague” Charlie Polinger
Juju Award
“Olmo” Fernando Inbuque
“Omaha” Cole Webley
Revelation Award
“Water Chronology” by Kristen Stewart
Deauville Audies Award
“Eleanor the Great” Scarlett Johansson
Canal + Award
“Sovereign,” Christan Swegal
Critics Award
“Plague” Charlie Polinger
D’Ornano-Valenti Award
“Nino” Pauline Rourke
