WATER LILIES (Naissance des pieuvres) West Coast Premiere Drama France, 2007 In French with English subtitles 35mm/1.85/Dolby Digital Sound/85 min Awards: Louis Delluc Prize for Best First Film Official Selection: Cannes Film Festival, Un Certain Regard (2007), Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival (2007), Turin International Film Festival (2007), Rotterdam International Film Festival (2008) Written & directed by: Céline Sciamma Cinematography: Crystel Fournier Editor: Julien Lacheray Music: Para One Produced by: Bénédicte Couvreur, Jérôme Dopffer Production Company: Les productions Balthazar With: Pauline Acquart (Marie), Louise Blachère (Anne), Adèle Haenel (Floriane), Warren Jacquin (François), Christelle Baras (The inspector), Serge Brincat (The trainer), Barbara Renard (Natacha) www.myspace.com/pieuvres Los Angeles release date: May 16, 2008 U.S Distributor: Koch Lorber Films 22 Harbor Park Drive Port Washington, NY 11050 Phone: 516 484 1000 Fax: 516 484 4746 www.kochlorberfilms.com Céline Sciamma’s directorial debut stars newcomers Pauline Acquart (Marie), Louise Blachère (Anne) and Adèle Haenel (Floriane). This film explores the vast theme of nascent teenage sexuality through the relationships of three 15-year-old girls who compete in their school’s synchronized swimming team. Together, they confront the confusion and cruelty of adolescence, while learning about love and desire. The aquatic setting enhances the amorphous, fleeting nature of their interactions. CELINE SCIAMMA Twenty-eight-year-old Céline Sciamma is a graduate of the French national film school La Fémis. She wrote two short films, Cache ta joie and Les Premières communions, before turning her student thesis film into a first feature: Water Lilies. Invited to present her film during “Un Certain Regard” at Cannes in 2007, she was recognized as one of the most talented newcomers and nominated for a César award in the Best First Work category. PRESS “First film by gifted scripter-helmer Celine Sciamma nails the aching doubts and offhanded cruelty of 15- and 16-year-old girls. Outstanding lead trio of young thesps wrestle with friendship, heterosexual and same-sex crushes and the queasy drumbeat of nascent sexuality." (Variety) “There are some fascinating theses floating here on the tug between adulthood and childhood and the emergence of the first, unknowable pangs of sexuality." (Time Out) “Unafraid to be ugly, confrontational or even shocking, the film reaches a level of emotional honesty rarely seen on screen, and while the film confounds expectations about its trio of leading ladies at every turn, their behaviour is never less than believable." (www.european-films.net)