“The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Maki” (“Hymyileva Mies”) has been named the best film in the Cannes Film Festival’s Un Certain Regard sidebar, the festival announced on Saturday.
The black-and-white film by Finnish director Juho Kuosmanen centers on a boxer who has a chance to win the featherweight world championship, but is distracted by his love for a young woman.
The jury prize went to Fukada Koji’s “Harmonium” (“Fuchi Ni Tatsu”), a Japanese film about a recently released convict’s impact on a family. The Sundance favorite “Captain Fantastic” won the best-director prize for Matt Ross, while the screenplay award went to Delphine Coulin and Muriel Coulin for “The Stopover” (“Voir Du Pays”).
A special prize was given to director Michael Dudok de Wit for his animated fable “The Red Turtle,” which won raves at the festival and was picked up for North American distribution by Sony Pictures Classics.
The jury was headed by actress Marthe Keller, and also included director Jessica Hausner, actor Diego Luna, director Ruben Ostlund and actress Céline Sallette.
The awards:
Prize of Un Certain Regard: “Hymyileva Mies (“The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Maki”), Juho Kuosmanen
Jury Prize: “Fuchi ni Tatsu” (“Harmonium”), Fukada Koji
Prize for Best Director: Matt Ross, “Captain Fantastic”
Prize for Best Screenplay: Delphine Coulin, Muriel Coulin, “Voir Du Pays” (“The Stopover”)
Un Certain Regard Special Prize: “La Tortue Rouge” (“The Red Turtle”), Michael Dudok de Wit