A rookie Quebec filmmaker is the toast of Cannes, after his breakout movie "I Killed my Mother" took three awards at the Cannes Directors' Fortnight, a sidebar of the prestigious film festival.
The screenplay, by 20-year-old Xavier Dolan, took the Art Cinema prize, the Regards Jeunes award and the SACD prize for best French-language film.
"I Killed my Mother", Dolan's directorial debut, was also in the running for the Camera D'Or award for first-time filmmakers, but he did not win.
The film is a coming-of-age drama about a 16-year-old boy who discovers his gay sexuality, and the conflicts he has with his mother.
At its first screening the movie received a standing ovation, and positive reviews from the critics.
Dolan was thrilled, and somewhat surprised. "I thought I would come to Cannes as an unknown, watch movies, go to screenings, meet people, but this is beyond that," he told reporters.
Dolan also said he has already been offered deals to make other movies.
The film almost didn't get made. Dolan says he spent $150,000 of his own savings to get it off the ground, money he earned as a child actor.
He did receive some government funding once filming was underway.
The film stars Quebec actors Anne Dorval, Francois Arnaud, Suzanne Clement, Patricia Tulasne and includes a cameo by Dolan's actor father, Manuel Tadros.
So far, some 20 countries have bought broadcasting rights to the film. "I Killed my Mother" will be playing in Quebec theatres as of June 5. It gets its international debut in France on July 15.
With files from The Canadian Press
