Manny The Movie Guy /

So Lars Von Trier, the Danish director who gave us the fantastic "Breaking the Waves" and "Dancer in the Dark" among others, has been banned from the Cannes Film Festival! According to The Hollywood Reporter, the director has been officially declared as a persona non grata after Von Trier, ever controversial, "called himself a Nazi and expressed sympathy for Hitler at a press conference" for his movie "Melancholia," on Wednesday.

(Take a look at the video of the controversial press conference, and look at the faces of "Melancholia" stars Kirsten Dunst and Charlotte Gainsbourg--they're shocked and disgusted too!)

Now apparently, Von Trier has already apologized for his remarks, blaming journalists, of course, but the Cannes Festival's board of directors were not very accepting. They voted to ban Von Trier from the Festival saying:

"The Festival de Cannes provides artists from around the world with an exceptional forum to present their works and defend freedom of expression and creation," the Festival said in a statement. "The board of directors profoundly regrets that this forum has been used by Lars von Trier to express comments that are unacceptable, intolerable, and contrary to the ideals of humanity and generosity that preside over the very existence of the festival. The Board of Directors firmly condemns these comments and declares Lars von Trier a persona non grata at the Festival de Cannes, with effect immediately."

"The board of directors profoundly regrets that this forum has been used by Lars von Trier to express comments that are unacceptable, intolerable, and contrary to the ideals of humanity and generosity that preside over the very existence of the festival."

We don't know if their decision is temporary or lifelong, but this is the first time in recent years that Cannes has banned a director.

Hhhmmmm, should we get one of the "Inglourious Basterds" to take care of him?