During Angelina Jolie's speech at Chopard Trophy dinner, she honors Marie Colomb and Finn Bennett, "I love international cinema. We are brought to other lands, into private moments, even on the battlefield, we connect and we empathize. I think of films like My Father Shadow, which is premiering here at Cannes. Anything that is possible to make international cinema more accessible is necessary and welcome".
"And none of us are naive. We know that many artists around the world lack the freedom and security to tell their stories, and many have lost their lives, like Fatima Hassouna, killed in Gaza, Shaden Gardood killed in Sudan, and Victoria Amelina killed in Ukraine, and so many other extraordinary artists who should be with us now. We owe all of those risking their lives and sharing their stories and experiences a debt of gratitude, because they have helped us to learn and to evolve."
"What brings us here is not carpets, even though they’re lovely, but what brings us here is to connect to each other through international cinema and the opportunity to be with creative people,” she added. “So I am very honored to be with so many brilliant global artists, including our honorees tonight, Finn Bennett and Mary Colon. You have both been acknowledged for the extraordinary versatility, authenticity, and empathy that you bring to your roles and as rising talents in global cinema. Thank you both for your contribution that you have already made to film and storytelling, and for everything that you will go on to do creatively."
Finn Bennett gushes about Angelina Jolie to Variety, "She really cares about fostering young actors. I feel really honored, really lucky to be here. I just wanted to ask how she does it all. Like, as you can see, this is crazy. And she deals with it so well, completely calmly. And I think that’s amazing."
Marie Colomb also was star-struck by Jolie, "She’s gorgeous, she’s super beautiful. I was looking at her and I was like, ‘Wow! It’s incredible, it’s unreal.’ And at the same time it’s funny because when I met her, I met a normal, nice human being. Then when you see the photos or videos afterwards, all my friends write to me like, ‘What is that?’ So, it’s pretty crazy but cool at the same time."