Oscar-nommed “Timbuktu” big winner at France’s Lumieres Awards

PanARMENIAN.Net - Abderrahmane Sissako’s Oscar-nominated “Timbuktu” was the big winner at this year’s Lumieres awards, France’s equivalent of the Golden Globes, sweeping best film and director nods.

“Timbuktu,” which world premiered in competed at Cannes, is also competing for eight Cesar awards.

Produced by Sylvie Pialat’s Les Films du Worso and sold by Le Pacte, Sissako’s film depicts the barbaric occupation of Islamic fundamentalists in Mali. Pic grossed over €4 million ($4.5 million) from 622,799 tickets sold as of Jan. 26 in France, surpassing the score of previous world cinema titles like “Ida” and “Waltz With Bashir.”

Karin Viard won lead actress for her perf as a deaf-mute mother in the family dramedy “Famille Belier.” Pic also earned former “The Voice” contestant-turned-thesp Louane Emera a female newcomer nod.

Gaspard Ulliel won the actor prize for his interpretation of French famed designer Yves Saint Laurent in Bertrand Bonello’s “Saint Laurent.”

Script prize went to Philippe de Chauveron and Guy Laurent for “Serial Bad Weddings.”

Thomas Cailley’s “Love at First Fight,” which won four prizes at Cannes’ Directors Fortnight, took two Lumieres kudos: first film for Cailley and male newcomer for Kevin Azaïs.

Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne’s “Two Days, One Night” nabbed the award for French-speaking film, while Céline Sciamma’s “Girlhood” won the Special Prize of the Academie.