mati diop is the first black woman director in the running to win the palme d'or.er film, "atlantics," has been described as a ghost story set in a senegalese workers strike. they turned to the ocean in hopes of a better life in europe. >> mati diop says her film portrays the atlantic ocean as a supernatural force, which is swallowing up senegal's youth. >> as a black woman, i missed black figures and black characters. it's also why i made this film. i needed to see black people onscreen. >> "atlantics," tells the story of a girl whose poor parents arranged for her to marry a wealthy man, but she is secretly in love with a building worker. when he and the other men set out on a boat fofor europe, the- the notable happens. they all drownwn. she can't believe he is gone. >> the actress says she is humbled by the film's success. her costar sees a message beyond the tale of love and beyond death. >> i would love for our parents to learn to this film that forced marriages do not help their children. they do it so their children don't hang around the streets. i think a m

of, is that we can never be too sure of anything. 0ne director who made an impact this year was mati diop it marked her directorial debut for the french actress and film—maker. her picture is an ambitious combination of magical realism, romance and social commentary. we went to meet her. atlantique centres on a young seller can a senegalese woman in love with salomon. their tryst is cut short when he leaves on a small boat with a group of young men in search of economic opportunity in spain. but the vast ocean slips away the lives of the group as with a chance to reconnect with his lover. with this film it was soared as a follow—up to a documentary shot looking at the struggles of young senegalese man attempting to cross the seas to emigrate to europe. i dedicated the first short film to the journey in the sea of the boys, i wanted to make a feature of the journey, the woman who stayed behind. it was a way to capture the metamorphosis of a girl becoming a woman. i also used archetypes of ulysses and penelope to re—explore the joy of penelope, who is the wife of ulysses. she waits for her

is pa rt in there as well, but mati diop is part senegalese, in fact her father was a very well—knownench— senegalese coproduction. but it isa french— senegalese coproduction. but it is a red letter day, let's put it that way, for the african cinema, that way, for the african cinema, that this coproduction actually got nominated in the main competition in cannes. 0ften nominated in the main competition in cannes. often they get sort of in the sidebar of competitions and then they don't get a lot of publicity. but this will get a lot of publicity, and as you say, slightly confusingly, the grand prix is the second prize, but she has still got a major prize at cannes, and that is quite a big development. and a household name like tarantino goes home empty—handed. household name like tarantino goes home empty-handed. yes, i wonder if that was... he is a camp favourite, i wonder if that was slightly too commercial, with brad pitt and leonardo dicaprio. do you know what? it is going to do well at the oscars next year so i don't think there will be crying too much. ok, it is still irrelevant

french—senegalese director mati diop received the festival's second accolade, taking the grand prix fors. it is the first major award for a black female director in cannes‘s 72—year history. it's pretty late, and it's incredible that it is still an event today that a black woman — it's incredible, but i knew it because obviously i don't know any black women who came here before, so i knew it, but it's always a reminder that so much work needs to be done. emily beecham took home the best actress award for her appearance in littlejoe, while best actor went to antonio banderas for his role in pain and glory. notably missing from the list — quentin tarantino's once upon a time in hollywood, despite the fact that the audience gave it a seven—minute standing ovation. however, it is not all bad news for the film, which stars margot robbie, brad pitt and leonardo dicaprio. it is already receiving a huge amount of oscar buzz ahead of its release at the end ofjuly. in america, it is memorial day weekend — a time to pay tribute to veterans. for the last 30 years or so, part of the commemorations h

meanwhile, not only wa5 mati diop in competition, so was another first—time director with his le5 anotherstering comparison of life in the modern paris suburbs to victor hugo's of historical masterpiece. it's great that they give opportunity for it to first—time directors in competition, because it's something for these kind of movies to be in competition. with the even wider visibility, it's wonderful. they strive to give greater visibility to more diverse faces, and to listen to new voices can't come a moment too soon. recently, the launch of her new film, farewell to the night, catherine deneuve voiced disquiet adding to criticism from within the french industry that it's too bloated, failing at the box office and file of the same names. one of the directors with the midas touch is the man who starred in the story ofa is the man who starred in the story of a director who recreates .he . he has worked in hollywood and thinks france represents freedom. as a director you don't have the same difficulties that you can go through when you direct a movie in the states, for example. you can't

french senegalese director mati diop received the festival's second accolade taking the grand prix forfirst major award for a black female direct in cannes‘s 72 history. it is pretty late and it is incredible that it is still an event today that a black woman, it is incredible but i knew it because i obviously do not know any black women who came here before. i knew it but it is always a reminder that so much work needs to be done. emily beauchamp took home the best actress award for her appearance in little joe while best actor went to antonio bandera ‘s for his role in pain and glory. notably missing, quentin tarantino's once glory. notably missing, quentin tara ntino's once upon glory. notably missing, quentin tarantino's once upon a time in hollywood despite the fact that the audience in mac three gave it a seven minute standing ovation. however, not all bad news for the film starring margot robbie, leonardo dicaprio and brad pitt. it is already receiving a huge amount of oscar buzz ahead of its release at the end of life. it's the weekend and some of us who are a bit sporty may be