Deauville tribute for Kirk Douglas

Two all-time Hollywood greats Lauren Bacall and Kirk Douglas at the Deauville Festival of American Cinema in Deauville in 1999. They were regular attendees over the years. Photo: Festival de Deauville

All systems seem to be go for the Deauville Festival of American Cinema in the upscale Normandy resort, which is scheduled to run from 4 to 13 September.

The Festival has confirmed that it will co-operate with Cannes Film Festival and the Annecy Animation Film Festival (both disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic) to present certain titles still to be revealed.

The organisers plan a tribute to Kirk Douglas, who died earlier this year at the age of 103. The veteran star of Spartacaus, Lust for Life and The Vikings and his son Michael have been frequent visitors to the event in the past.

Vanessa Paradis takes over the honours as president of the jury at the Deauville Festival of American Cinema Photo: Richard Mowe

Kirk Douglas has been the recipient of two homages, in 1978 and in 1999, the latter in the presence of Lauren Bacall for John Asher’s film Diamonds. He also received the festival’s Literary Prize for Climbing the Mountain: My Search For Meaning , a memoir that picked up where his autobiography The Ragman’s Son left off. It focused on his re-immersion in his Jewish faith.

In 2009, at 92, he did a one-man stage show, Before I Forget, that was made into a documentary film which may be included in the celebration.

Vanessa Paradis has been named as president of the jury following in the recent wake of Sandrine Kiberlain and Catherine Deneuve.

Since its creation in 1975, the festival has showcased the diversity of American cinema, from major Hollywood productions to independent films. More than 60 films are presented over ten days using the resort's swanky hotels as well as the conference centre the Centre International de Deauville, the Deauville Lucien Barrière Casino, and Le Morny Cinema. The Festival is open to everyone, professionals and cinema enthusiasts alike, and is regarded as one of the most accessible festivals for talent and the public. It comes at a busy time in the film festival calendar with Venice, Toronto and San Sebastian all vying for attention.