Stillwater: Cannes Out of Competition Premiere
A lot of fashion forward stars descended to Cannes for an out-of-competition screening of Stillwater starring Matt Damon, Abilgail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine), and Camile Cottin.
The Stillwater is US-French production co-written by writer and director Tom McCarthy and French penners Noé Debré and Marcus Hinchey. It follows Bill (Matt Damon) – a father who travels from Oklahoma to France to help his estranged daughter. His daughter Allison (Abigail Breslin) is in prison for a murder she claims she didn’t commit.
The initial inspiration for the story, McCarthy admitted was the case of Amanda Knox. “It served as initial inspiration point but not much beyond that. I just had a daughter at the time and thought how it would be like.”
The production of the film wrapped just as the lockdown restrictions came into force in 2020. McCarthy told press that he felt it was kind of film that had to be screened in cinemas and not directly on on-demand platforms, so he delayed the release. Indeed, good things come to those who wait.
Speaking of the experience of being back to the cinema theatres again, Damon said he was a little overwhelmed at the premiere. “What a way to come out of COVID. To be in a room with thousand of people who are all strangers but it’s the same community. I never would have appreciated it in the same way have we not gone through what we have.”
Editor in Chief of Ikon London Magazine, journalist, film producer and founder of The DAFTA Film Awards (The DAFTAs).
