Roger Ebert emerges for Cannes ceremony

Friend Martin Scorsese announces renaming of press room after legendary film critic

By Quinn Bender
Roger Ebert, left, is honoured at the Cannes Film Festival by friend Martin Scorsese.movieset.com 

Roger Ebert made a rare public appearance today for a dedication ceremony at the Cannes Film Festival to rename the American Pavillion press conference room in his honour. The ribbon cutting ceremony for what's now the Roger Ebert Conference Center was presided over by US Consulate delegates and Oscar-winning director and and long-time friend of Ebert's, Martin Scorsese.

“I can’t think of anyone else who deserves it as much,” Scorsese said. “Your name has become synonymous with the love of cinema… which you shared with the world and continue to share.

“Over the years [you provided] very strong support and comradeship, even during difficult times — and the criticism you gave me," he added with a laugh. "I always found it to be very well thought out.”

Ebert was gracious and buoyant throughout the brief ceremony. It’s the first time he has attended the festival since 2005 — in 2006 Ebert suffered post-surgical complications related to thyroid cancer, which required the partial removal of his jaw bone, leaving him unable to speak.

He's been seen in public seldom since.

Typing his words of thanks into a computer, Ebert was smiling and animated as the crowd listened the voice simulator.

“I love this festival. I have spent seven years of my life here, one week at a time. It is the best place in the world to see a movie,” he said.

Ebert lauded the American Pavilion’s history of attracting top filmmakers for press interviews. He then delivered a special message to the American film students working at the Pavilion, several of whom gathered in the light rain for the dedication ceremony.

“Look around, meet some of these people in [the press] room. In their careers and in their values they represent the hopes of the art of cinema at a time — above all — [when] we need more people like them.”

Ebert’s movie reviews are syndicated to more than 200 newspapers around the world. He has written more than 15 books, and in 1975 was the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize for criticism. Ebert is also the first film critic to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.