Wes Anderson was a welcome sight at the Rencontres 7e Art Lausanne film festival this week, appearing Tuesday night at a packed Capitole theater. The appearance comes after last year’s last-minute cancellations of several English-speaking guests, including Lynne Ramsay, Nick Cassavetes, and Pamela Anderson, leaving organizers cautiously optimistic.
The acclaimed American filmmaker wasn’t alone on stage. Anderson, dressed in a tweed suit, was joined by British actor, screenwriter, and director Richard Ayoade, whom he directed in his twelfth feature film, The Phoenician Scheme. The film debuted at Cannes in May and was screened later that evening at the festival. Anderson was also presented with a Chaplin Trophy, an honor he reportedly welcomed, given the legendary filmmaker’s place in cinematic history.
The event took place at Switzerland’s largest theater hall, drawing a largely young audience – a positive sign for the future of film appreciation. Laurence Fishburne is expected to follow Anderson, attracting crowds to screenings hosted by the Swiss Cinematheque later this week.
