Annie-nominated director Ari Folman’s new pic The Congress will open the 45th Director’s Fortnight sidebar during the Cannes Film Festival on May 16.
The sci-fi movie mixes live-action with animation and stars Robin Wright, Paul Giamatti, Jon Hamm, Harvey Keitel, Danny Huston and Frances Fisher. The much-anticipated feature by the gifted Israeli director is based on The Futurological Congress by Polish writer Stanislaw Lem, who also wrote the famous sci-fi book Solaris. The plot follows the story of an aging actress (Robin Wright), who agrees to having herself scanned and turned into a digital actress for the sake of a single last, large payment to support her disabled son. The studio can use her digital image in any way they see fit, and she is forever banned from acting again. Of course, she doesn’t realize are quite how extensive the ramifications of her actions are.
Folman’s Waltz with Bashir was a competition film in the Official Selection in 2008 and went on to win the Cesar and DGA Award for Best Animated Feature. He was also writer/director of the original version of In Treatment, which was later adapted by HBO.
