The Israeli series "The Lesson," a social drama illustrating political tensions in the country, won the prize for best long series and the prize for interpretation at the Canneseries festival in southeastern France on Wednesday.
After six days of screenings and meetings, the festival, in its fifth edition, also crowned the Belgian production "Hacked" for best short series. The show addresses the theme of cyber-bullying in schools.
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Cast members of 'The Lesson' celebrate as they receive the Best Series award during the closing night of the 5th Cannes International Series Festival in Cannes, France, April 6, 2022
(Photo: AFP)
The juries rewarded very different works, proving, according to the artistic director of the festival, Albin Lewi, the "great variety" of the selected series.
“The Lesson," a “social phenomenon” in Israel according to Lewi, traces the repercussions of a political discussion between a professor and his student that escalates at a time when social networks and disinformation exacerbate tensions.
Maya Landsmann, who plays one of the show's main characters, received the prize for best performance.
In 2018, another Israeli series was crowned, "When Heroes Fly."
The touching Quebec dramedy "Audrey's Back," about a woman emerging from a 16-year-old coma, received the Dior Grand Prix and the special interpretation prize.
The German science fiction series "Souls," where several temporalities collide, won the prizes for best screenplay, notably by Alex Eslam, and for best music.
The prize for the best young creator was awarded to the Norwegian series "Afterglow," a favorite of many festivalgoers, which was produced by a group of high school students.