The 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival begins Tuesday, and this lineup is particularly star-packed. Which titles could follow in the path of last year’s big breakouts like “Anora” and “The Substance”? Here are the stories we have our eye on this year.
It’s a Hollywood-heavy lineup.
Though Cannes is traditionally known for showcasing the best in global cinema, the lineup is packed with so many high-profile English-language films that it could be mistaken for a festival in Hollywood.
The biggest premieres include “Die My Love,” which pairs Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson as a couple in a crumbling marriage; the new Spike Lee film, “Highest 2 Lowest,” with Denzel Washington; and Wes Anderson’s caper “The Phoenician Scheme,” with Benicio Del Toro leading an ensemble that includes Michael Cera, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Hanks and Riz Ahmed.
There’s also the romantic drama “The History of Sound,” with Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor; Richard Linklater’s “Nouvelle Vague,” a tribute to the French new wave; and “Eddington” from Ari Aster (“Midsommar,” “Hereditary”), with an A-list cast featuring Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Emma Stone and Austin Butler. And if that weren’t Hollywood-heavy enough, Tom Cruise will debut his final “Mission: Impossible” movie on the festival’s second day.
Actors are making their directorial debuts.
Kristen Stewart, Scarlett Johansson and Harris Dickinson are all Cannes mainstays, but for this year’s fest, the three actors are instead stepping behind the camera for their feature directing debuts. And lest you assume they’re making vanity projects, all three declined starring roles in their own movies.
Stewart’s long-in-the-works “The Chronology of Water” will bow first, starring Imogen Poots as a young woman struggling with issues of addiction and sexuality. Next up is “Urchin,” from the “Babygirl” breakout Dickinson, about a London drifter (Frank Dillane) struggling to find his place in society. And the second week of the festival will debut Johansson’s “Eleanor the Great,” a comedy starring June Squibb.
Oscar contenders will emerge.
The last two editions of Cannes each produced three best picture nominees, and last year’s Palme d’Or winner, “Anora,” even went on to claim the top Oscar.
With “Sinners” already appearing locked and loaded for Oscar consideration, is it possible that we’ll know nearly half of the likely best picture nominees by the end of this month? At the very least, the winner of the prestigious Palme d’Or should have a clear path to consideration. Speaking of which …
Will Neon extend its hot streak?
No studio has a more impressive track record at Cannes than Neon, which has pulled off an astonishing five consecutive Palme d’Or wins. The streak began with “Parasite,” followed by “Titane,” “Triangle of Sadness,” “Anatomy of a Fall” and “Anora.” Can Neon now make it six in a row?
Its best bet this year appears to be “Sentimental Value” from Joachim Trier, who reunites with his “Worst Person in the World” star Renate Reinsve for a family drama about a woman’s thorny relationship with her estranged filmmaker father (Stellan Skarsgard). Reinsve won the best actress award at Cannes for her last collaboration with Trier, so that only adds to the anticipation for the new film.
Neon also has “Alpha,” the latest from Julia Ducournau. Her gonzo film “Titane” was the only recent Palme winner to find no favor with Oscar voters, but after the bloody antics of “The Substance” thrilled the academy, anything’s possible. If her new film wows a Cannes jury that includes Jeremy Strong, Halle Berry and the panel’s president, Juliette Binoche, a continued Palme streak may be possible.
Kyle Buchanan is a pop culture reporter and also serves as The Projectionist, the awards season columnist for The Times.
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