Angelina Jolie Delivers Humanitarian Message at Chopard Dinner in Front of Quentin Tarantino, Cannes Jury: 'None of Us Are Naive'
The Oscar winner agreed to serve as this year's Chopard Godmother, a gig that saw her preside over Friday night's A-list Trophée Chopard dinner at Carlton Beach and present trophies to an actor and actress anointed as next generational talent by a jury comprised of previous recipients of the esteemed festival honor. This year's awards went to French actress Marie Colomb and breakout British star Finn Bennett, most recently seen in Alex Garland's Warfare and opposite Jodie Foster in True Detective: Night Country.
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The honors were doled out during what is always a glitzy ceremony attended by Cannes Film Festival president Iris Knobloch, general delegate Thierry Frémaux, Chopard co-president and artistic director Caroline Scheufele, members of the competition jury and A-list guests. Friday night was no different as this year's event hosted Quentin Tarantino (who was seated across from Jolie), Carla Bruni, and jury members Halle Berry, Jeremy Strong and president Juliette Binoche.
The godmother always offers introductory remarks and Jolie maximized her time by professing a love for international cinema while staying true to her humanitarian activism and calling attention to tragic stories of women who lost their lives amid war and conflict abroad.
'I love international cinema. We are brought to other lands, into private moments, even on the battlefield, we connect and we empathize. I think of films like My Father Shadow, which is premiering here at Cannes. Anything that is possible to make international cinema more accessible is necessary and welcome,' said Jolie. 'And none of us are naive. We know that many artists around the world lack the freedom and security to tell their stories, and many have lost their lives, like Fatima Hassouna, killed in Gaza, Shaden Gardood killed in Sudan, and Victoria Amelina killed in Ukraine, and so many other extraordinary artists who should be with us now. We owe all of those risking their lives and sharing their stories and experiences a debt of gratitude, because they have helped us to learn and to evolve.'
Jolie continued by saying that people convened in Cannes not just for glamour but connection. 'What brings us here is not carpets, even though they're lovely, but what brings us here is to connect to each other through international cinema and the opportunity to be with creative people,' she added. 'So I am very honored to be with so many brilliant global artists, including our honorees tonight, Finn Bennett and Mary Colon. You have both been acknowledged for the extraordinary versatility, authenticity, and empathy that you bring to your roles and as rising talents in global cinema. Thank you both for your contribution that you have already made to film and storytelling, and for everything that you will go on to do creatively.'
In accepting, Bennett thanked his agent Bella Wingfield, 'whose belief in me really still confounds me,' his 'beautiful partner' Anna, and Jolie. 'I'm incredibly, incredibly honored to be presented this award by such a revered actor and filmmaker. But she's not only that, her work in humanitarian causes and ecological causes means she's someone who is and will always be on the right side of history.'
Though the night was expected to close with a musical performance from actress, singer and former first lady of France, Carla Bruni. But due to noise from the venue next door, which was playing loud music amid a competing bar, Bruni bailed even after the musicians were assembled on stage. She later took to Instagram to slam the venue and thank Scheufele for the opportunity.
'When it came time to sing and when it came time to present the Chopard trophies, our neighbors decided to play music so deafening that we couldn't even hear the names of the winners. … We had prepared five or six songs for the guests. We were looking forward to playing this evening,' explained the wife of former French president Nicolas Sarkozy. 'We couldn't play because the Carlton Beach decided to have a party, with no respect for the artists next door, with no respect for the Chopard trophies. I would like to thank Caroline Scheufele and tell her that I will come and sing whenever she wants, for free. Thank you to the Carlton Beach for the awful racket you imposed on us.'
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