Director Terry Gilliam’s film, ‘The Man who Killed Don Quixote’ will be screened on the closing night of the Cannes Film Festival after a French court dismissed legal action that would have banned it.

On Wednesday, a French court dismissed a claim for compensation by Paulo Branco and Alfama Films Production against Gilliam’s film, with the festival strongly defending its right to screen it and calling the legal cause an “attempted intimidation orchestrated by Paulo Branco and his lawyer son”.

The festival announced today that the screening for 'The Man Who Killed Don Quixote' would now go ahead.

In official statement, the festival went on to praise Gilliam’s work and were thrilled to be able to present the film after the judge’s ruling:

"The campaign of attempted intimidation orchestrated by Paulo Branco and his lawyer son have therefore proved fruitless. The urgent applications judge has, through this decision, confirmed that contrary to what the Brancos have continued to claim (among other slanderous attacks and lies), the Festival de Cannes has never placed itself above the law nor has it attempted to force through a decision.

The Festival de Cannes, which throughout the case has repeatedly expressed its loyalty and support for the creators, is pleased to see that justice will allow the presentation of this work, whose director surely deserves to see it finally presented to the public.

We are very pleased that this unique - and in some ways agonising - work in the career of the great director Terry Gilliam will be unveiled for the first time to journalists, festival-goers and professionals from around the world, gathered together in the Grand Amphithéâtre Lumière." - Festival de Cannes

The festival went on to defend the right of freedom of expression and sent a newsletter to all the attendees confirming the film would be screened on Saturday 19th May.

The Man Who Killed Don Quixote trailer

To get access to the screening attendees with festival badges can book their tickets in advance in the Palais using their unique ID to reserve access.