Natalie Portman and Claude Lelouch participated in the awards ceremony of the 50th Deauville American Film Festival on Saturday, September 14. The jury, led by Benoît Magimel, honored directors Nnamdi Asomugha and Alessandra Lacorazza Samudio. A week after Michael Douglas received an honorary award, Natalie Portman was presented with a Deauville Talent Award by Isabelle Adjani during the festival’s closing night, which officially ends on Sunday.

“I’m an American living in France, and celebrating the meeting of American and French cinema is really incredible,” said Portman on the red carpet. The 43-year-old Israeli-American actress, known for her roles in Leon, Black Swan, and the Star Wars trilogy, remarked on “the French recognition of American cinema and the American recognition of French cinema. I’m very lucky to live in these two worlds.”

The jury prize, chaired by French actor Benoît Magimel, was awarded to The Knife by Nnamdi Asomugha. The Grand Prix went to In the Summers by Alessandra Lacorazza Samudio.

On Saturday night, Claude Lelouch presented his latest feature film with his crew, including actress Elsa Zylberstein. Lelouch told Agence France-Presse that he had “stage fright, like a beginner, but I am delighted to close this festival with a film called Finalement.” He added, “I am delighted to have been able to make 51 films,” referencing his Oscar-winning A Man and a Woman and its final scene shot on Deauville beach. On Friday night, Francis F. Coppola also presented his latest film, Megalopolis.

The new festival director, Aude Hesbert, replaced Bruno Barde in June after he was dismissed following a Mediapart investigation into accusations of harassment and sexual assault. At the end of August, trumpeter Ibrahim Maalouf, accused several years ago of sexual assault on a minor, had to leave the jury. Although he was acquitted in 2020, “uneasiness in the team,” according to management, led to his exclusion.
 

Sayart / Amia Nguyen, amyngwyen13@gmail.com