LESLIE SHATZ WINS PRIX VULCAIN AT THE 58THCANNES FILM FESTIVAL

At the closing ceremonies for the 58th Cannes Film Festival Saturday, May 21, 2005 the Commission Superieure Technique de l’Image et du Son (CST) decided unanimously to bestow it’s prestigious Prix Vulcain de l'Artiste-Technicien, to Leslie Shatz for his sublimely minimalist sound design on Gus Van Sant’s LAST DAYS. Shatz shared the award with Robert Rodriguez for his visual treatment on SIN CITY.

>From 1951 to 2000, a jury comprising members of the CST awarded a Technical Prize (“Grand Prix Technique”) at the Cannes Film Festival. After a break of two years, the award was re-named “Prix Vulcain de l’Artiste-Technicien.” The Prix Vulcain is given to a technician(s) whose work is represented in a film screened at the festival and deemed to be outstanding. It is not given every year. Past winners have included Eric Gautier in 2004, director of photography for CLEAN directed by Olivier Assayas and MOTORCYCLE DIARIES by Walter Salles and Tom Stern in 2005, director of photography for MYSTIC RIVER directed by Clint Eastwood.

Shatz, upon being notified of the victory said, "I'm extremely moved by this honor. The fact that the Cannes Film Festival recognizes the technical aspects of film as an artistic endeavor, and to be selected from all of the craftsmen and women represented by countries from all over the world, and from all the crafts is truly exciting. My collaboration with Gus has extended over so many years and is so gratifying to me, but this is like the icing on the cake."

Shatz is busy gearing up for his next film, MARTIAN CHILD directed by Menno Meyjes for New Line Cinema. His past credits include BRAM STOKER’S DRACULA directed by Francis Ford Coppola; THE MUMMY directed by Stephen Sommers; and MISHIMA directed by Paul Schrader