Second annual award goes to Oliver Hermanus.
The second annual Queer Palm award at Cannes 2011, presented independently, has gone to Beauty (Skoonheid) by Oliver Hermanus.
The film was presented in Un Certain Regard. It is about a macho Afrikaaner and the secret he hides from his family, his friends and himself.
Hermanus was on hand at the ceremony on Cherie Cheri beach to receive the award, which was presented by actress Julie Gayet and director Joao Pedro Rodrigues.
The Queer Palm 2011 jury was comprised of Elisabeth Quin (president), Gerard Lefort, Thomas Albetshauser, Fred Arends, Esther Cuenot and Roberto Schinardi.
Hermanus said: “Thank you to the organisers and to the jury of this very important award for cinema. When we made this film we were definitly challenging some radical issues in South Africa, and I’m very happy to have the confidence as there in Cannes. We want to show it in South Africa but we know it will be a challenging film for the audience because it deals with someone who refuses to accept his sexuality which is, I think, happening in all countries in the world, people refuse to accept who they are. I think it’s really amazing to have an award like this which celebrates who we are. Thank you very much, merci beaucoup !”
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