“I don’t know the last time I saw so many movies! They are all amazing, so bold, so brave!
You can hear the excitement in Lee Daniels’ voice. He was running between screenings at the Zurich Film Festival, where the Oscar-nominated director participated in a film marathon. preciousand co-creator of the television show empireis the chairman of this year’s competition jury.
“I had forgotten what this was like,” Daniels said, referring to the international art film scene. “This is a real return to my roots for me.”
Daniels began his film career in the independent world as a producer for Marc Forster monster ball. Through the eyes of a white prison guard (played by Billy Bob Thornton) and the black widow he executes (played by Halle Berry, who won an Oscar, marking the first time a black actress has played a leading role).
Daniels stepped behind the camera as a director, touring independent film festivals with his work tai chi boxer (2005), Toronto premiere; precious (2009), which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and went on to win two Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actress for co-star Monique and Best Adapted Screenplay for Jeffrey Fletcher. Leigh Fletcher was the first black writer to win the award; and in 2012 Newsboypremiered in Cannes.
“That’s how I started doing independent films and going to film festivals,” Daniels said. “My first trip was in Berlin monster ballThen there’s the Sundance Film Festival, the Cannes Film Festival…”
Gabourey Sidibe is here precious. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and marked Daniels’ breakthrough as a director.
Lionsgate
Of course, later Daniels “entered television” and co-created empirehis prime-time soap opera — which he calls “black.” dynasty》With the hip-hop industry as the background. Starring Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson, the show was an instant hit. The Season 1 finale was watched by 17 million viewers. It ran for six seasons, was nominated for eight Emmy Awards, and was one of Fox’s highest-rated movies ever. But Daniels now calls that period of his career “the absolute worst experience” because of the creative compromises he needed to make as he fine-tuned his vision for primetime television.
“It was fun to watch TV, but I started to get comfortable and think about what people wanted from me,” Daniels said. “I’m kind of losing my mind. You achieve success, but you may lose touch with the source of your success: your authentic voice.
On the big screen, Daniels has also come a long way from his gritty indie roots. after great success housekeeperThis worthy historical drama charts recent American history and the course of the civil rights movement from the perspective of a long-serving White House butler (Forest Whitaker), with Daniels bringing the admirable but somewhat conventional United States vs Billie Holidayand Netflix horror movies save.
Anthony B. Jenkins as Andre, Demi Singleton as Shante, and Andra Day as Ebony save.
Aaron Ricketts/Courtesy of Netflix
Daniels said it was “a revelation” and “an inspiration” to serve as jury president in Zurich and watch one experimental independent film after another. “You can see how movies can change culture, and movies often do that, and some of my films have had that impact, changing the conversation around certain issues.”
ZFF’s competition line-up consists of 14 works by Julien Colonna, blending countries, languages and genres kingdoman action thriller set among warring gangs and nationalists in Corsica; to mother maraThe drama, starring Serbian actress and director Mirjana Karanovic, tells the story of an older woman who begins a relationship with a younger man after the sudden death of her son; arrive become a guinea fowlA surreal comedy set in Zambia I’m not a witch Directed by Longano Nioni.
“If it comes to choosing the best comedy, it’s easy to choose the winner in Zurich,” said Daniels. Daniels and the other members of the ZFF jury will announce this year’s winner on Saturday, October 12. When it comes to picking the best drama or the best thriller, it’s easy. But what about choosing the best movie? We’re going to have a very, very difficult time.
But whoever wins this year’s Zurich GoldenEye for Best Picture, Daniels will go home inspired.
“It really changed what I wanted to do, the stories I wanted to tell,” he said. “It’s like coming full circle. It’s like a rebirth for me.
