"A film is the expression of a unique vision - the more it is personal, the more it nears the status of a work of art. Which means that it will resist far longer the test of time."

"I have always thought that film represents the answer to an age-old wish of mankind: the desire to share a common memory, a heritage."

Born in 1942 in New York, Martin Scorsese graduates in film at New York University. His first shorts are inspired by the New French Wave. In the 70s, he directs his first feature film Bertha Boxcar, followed by Mean Streets, which reveals both his talent and that of the Robert de Niro. One year later, Scorsese helms Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore in Competition at the Festival de Cannes. In 1976, he receives the Palme d'Or for Taxi Driver, starring Jodie Foster and Robert de Niro, henceforth his on-screen alter ego: he will successively shoot with him Raging Bull, The King of Comedy (in Competition, Cannes, 1983), Goodfellows and Casino.
In 1985, Martin Scorsese directs After Hours, honoured with the Best Actor's Award at Cannes. In 1988, he shoots The Last Temptation of Christ, adapted from the novel by Nikos Kazantzakis. In 1993, he brings to the screen The Age of Innocence, based on Edith Wharton's novel. In 1998, he presides the jury of the Festival de Cannes. Martin Scorsese next directs Leonardo DiCaprio in Gangs of New York (2002), Aviator (2005) and The Departed (2006) for which he wins four Oscars, including Best Film and Best Director. Martin Scorsese is currently in post-production on Shine A Light, a documentary on the Rolling Stones. He now returns to Cannes in 2007 to give his Cinema Masterclass.

Martin Scorsese's Cinema Masterclass will be held on Thursday, May 24th at 2:15 pm in the Salle Debussy, and will be hosted by Michel Ciment.