We’re pleased to announce that the Belgium-Canada-France co-production Hors les murs (Beyond The Walls) from director David Lambert has won the Grand Golden Rail Award for Best Feature Film (Grand Rail d’Or) at the International Critics’ Week during the 65th Cannes Film Festival.

A group of film enthusiasts, members of the French railwaymen association Ceux du Rail, attends International Critics’ Week screenings and awards annually the Grand Rail d’Or for Best Feature Film and the Petit Rail d’Or for Best Short Film.

The International Critics’ Week, founded in 1962 and organized by the French Syndicate of Cinema Critics, is the oldest parallel competitive section of the Cannes Film Festival. It showcases first and second feature films by directors from all over the world, and has remained true to its tradition of discovering new talent. Bernardo Bertolucci, Ken Loach, Wong Kar-wai, Jacques Audiard, Arnaud Desplechin, Gaspar Noé and François Ozon all started out at the Critics’ Week.

The International Critics’ Week presents a very selective programming so that the films can get a greater visibility.

About the film

Hors les murs (Beyond The Walls)
Director: David Lambert
Screenplay: David Lambert
Production: Boréal Films (Canada), Frakas Productions (Belgium), Productions Balthazar (France)

Paulo, a young pianist, meets Ilir, a double-bass player originally from Albania. It’s love at first sight. Confronted by Anka, Paulo finds himself out on the street. Despite Ilir’s misgivings, Paulo moves in with him. One day, when Paulo promises that he will love Ilir for the rest of his life, Ilir leaves the city and doesn’t return. A few days later, Paulo finds out that Ilir is in jail, and the two lovers embark on a heart-breaking relationship.