Cannes 2012 president’s documentary features Roman Polanski, Claude Lelouch

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Cannes Film Festival turns 65 this year and Festival President Gilles Jacob has been hard at work on a unique birthday gift, The Hollywood Reporter said.

After publishing a book of memoirs in 2007 titled Citizen Cannes, Jacob is back with an on-screen ode to his favorite film festival with documentary A Special Day. The film focuses on a day in the life of several legendary directors, including Roman Polanski, Nanni Moretti, Ken Loach and Claude Lelouch. Jacob followed around the filmmakers when they came to present their visions of Cannes for the festival’s 60th anniversary in 2007 for the collection of 33 shorts called To Each His Own Cinema.

A Special Day will receive a special screening at this year’s festival to commemorate the fest’s 65th birthday party on May 20.

Jacob has attended the festival since 1964, first as a journalist, then working for the festival since 1976 without interruption.

Samuel Faure, in charge of partnerships for the fest, has worked with Jacob for more than 15 years and has a co-directing credit on the film.

“I appreciate him tremendously,” Jacob said of his long-time colleague. When Jacob began to edit the films, Faure stepped in to help with the computer technology, mixing and other production and eventually took on a bigger role.

Jacob said his goal in making the film was “to provide knowledge on the historical and human history of the festival, go behind the scenes, feel the intense emotions when so many great directors are together, a family ofcelebrities anonymous on the Croisette.”