Next month’s Cannes Film Festival will see esteemed directors such as Wes Anderson, Ken Loach, Todd Haynes, and Wim Wenders competing for the top prize, with Hollywood celebrities gracing the red carpet for their latest movie premieres. The lineup for the festival’s 76th edition from May 16-27 was announced by Director Thierry Fremaux and President Iris Knobloch at a recent press conference.
A record number of six films directed by women will be among the 19 movies contending for the prestigious Palme d’Or award. The competition will feature a mix of young filmmakers and experienced directors. Loach’s “The Old Oak,” tells the story of Syrian refugees settling in a British mining village, while Anderson’s star-studded “Asteroid City” follows the chaos at a junior stargazer convention.
Other notable directors participating in the competition include American filmmaker Haynes with “May December,” starring Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore, Italian Nanni Moretti with “Il Sol Dell’Avvenire,” German filmmaker Wim Wenders with “Perfect Days,” and Japan’s Hirokazu Kore-eda with “Monster.” Women directors in the running are France’s Catherine Breillat with “L’Ete Dernier,” Austrian Jessica Hausner with “Club Zero,” and Tunisian Kaouther Ben Hania with “Les Filles D’Olfa.”
The festival’s opening film is “Jeanne du Barry,” featuring Johnny Depp in his first live-action role since his defamation trial against Amber Heard last year. Other highlights include Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” and the world premiere of “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” with Harrison Ford reprising his iconic role. Cannes will also pay tribute to Ford’s career during the event.
Additionally, Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodovar will present his Western short “Strange Way of Life,” while “12 Years a Slave” director Steve McQueen will premiere his documentary “Occupied City,” which explores Amsterdam under Nazi occupation during World War II.
Iris Knobloch expressed enthusiasm for returning films and audiences to cinemas, emphasizing the irreplaceable cultural significance of film releases in theatres. Industry professionals and artists alike share this sentiment.
Swedish director Ruben Ostlund, who won last year’s Palme d’Or for his film “Triangle of Sadness,” will serve as the jury president for this year’s competition. The Cannes Film Festival has a long-standing reputation for showcasing some of the best films and talents from around the world, and this year’s lineup is no exception, promising an exciting event for cinema enthusiasts and professionals alike.
