ALEXANDRE DESPLAT
HONORARY CEREMONY
The world famous composer Alexandre Desplat was awarded the 50th TIFF Golden Alexander Award at the honorary ceremony held on Monday November 16 in the packed Stavros Tornes Theatre (Warehouse 1).
In his speech, the TIFF President, Georges Corraface, said: “We have the great pleasure to bestow an award on a person who has Greek roots [the musician’s mother is Greek], but this is not the main reason. We are honoured to bestow on him the highest Festival award because of his brilliant career in film music. The award is but a small recognition of all he has given us through his music. Let us hope that some day he will compose the music for a Greek film.”
Alexandre Desplat won the public’s sympathy not only for his musical merits but because on receiving the Golden Alexander Award he gave a short speech in perfect Greek. He said: “My Greek is far from perfect but my mother helped me write these words and I will try to read them as best I can. I would like to thank the Thessaloniki Film Festival and feel great pride in receiving this award. It is not often that one gets an award that bears one’s own name! I don’t think this can happen twice in one’s life”, he said smilingly, and continued: “Greek music has always been a source of inspiration to me. You can trace hidden Greek elements in the music I have written for many films. I hope to return soon to Greece. I love you all.”
The ceremony was repeatedly interrupted by showers of applause from all present. There followed the special screening of Jacques Audiard’s film De battre mon coeur s’est arrete/The Beat that My Heart Skipped, for which the acclaimed composer wrote the music.
