For this 44th edition the Grand Prize goes to THUNDER ROAD and two Jury Prizes have been awarded to AMERICAN ANIMALS and NIGHT COMES ON.
Who are the winners of the 2018 Deauville American Film Festival?
The Jury has given the following awards:
Grand Prize
THUNDER ROAD
By Jim Cummings
The story of Jimmy Arnaud, a Texan police officer trying to raise his child as best as he can. A tragicomic portrait of a failing figure of authority in America.
Jim Cummings wrote, directed and stars in the film. He won an award at Sundance in 2016 for his short film, which was in fact the first scene of the movie: the policeman gives an unorthodox eulogy at his mother's funeral and sings Bruce Springsteen's "Thunder Road", which his mother used to sing to him. Following this success, Cummings launched a crowdfunding appeal to help make the full-length film.
The film is on general release on 12 September.
Jury Prize
Two JURY PRIZES have been awarded: AMERICAN ANIMALS and NIGHT COMES ON.
AMERICAN ANIMALS
By Bart Layton
Four college friends loathe the idea of living ordinary lives and brazenly attempt to execute one of the most audacious art heists in US history. As the daring theft unfolds through each of the friends' perspectives, the boys begin to question whether their search for identity, adventure and a “special” life is misguided or right. By the time they know the answer, it's too late and they have crossed a line that should never have been crossed…
NIGHT COMES ON
By Jordana Spiro
Eighteen-year-old Angel leaves her several years stint in juvenile detention and can get her life back. Her only wish is to hit the reset button on her and her little sister's life. But will she confess her secret dark plan?
The Louis Roederer Fondation Revelation Prize goes to
WE THE ANIMALS
By Jeremiah Zagar
Manny, Joel and Jonah tear their way through childhood and push against the volatile love of their parents. As Manny and Joel grow into versions of their father and Ma dreams of escape, Jonah, the youngest, embraces an imagined world all his own…
Critic’s Prize
BLINDSPOTTING
by Carlos López Estrada
Collin must make it through his final three days of probation for a chance at a new beginning. He and his troublemaking childhood best friend, Miles, work as movers, and when Collin witnesses a police shooting, the two men's friendship is tested as they grapple with identity and their changed realities in the rapidly gentrifying neighborhood of Oakland they grew up in.
The film will be on general release on 3 October.
The City of Deauville Audience Award
PUZZLE
By Marc Turtletaub
Agnes, taken for granted as a suburban New York mother, discovers a passion for solving jigsaw puzzles which unexpectedly draws her into a new world – where her life unfolds in ways she could never have imagined…
The Lucien Barrière Literary Award :
John Grisham for his novel Camino Island.
