The countdown to the Cannes Film Festival lineup announcement is heating up. With less than two weeks to go, here’s what we know so far:
- Terrence Malick’s 3+-hour epic, The Way of the Wind, might still make it despite Malick still tweaking it.
- Kelly Reichardt’s The Mastermind is done and could head to Cannes or Venice.
- Iranian cinema might shine with two films: Jafar Panahi’s secret project and Saed Roustaee’s Mother and Son.
- Belgium could see two entries: the Dardenne brothers’ The Young Mother’s Home and Laura Wandel’s L’interet D’Adam.
- Germany might also have two films: Mascha Schilinski’s Looking Into the Sun and Christian Petzold’s Miroirs No. 3.
- Spike Lee is pushing for Highest 2 Lowest to compete, but it might end up out of competition.
- Other big names like Wes Anderson, Jim Jarmusch, and Richard Linklater are also in the race.
- Bi Gan’s Resurrection is still in production but might sneak in at the deadline.
Terrence Malick’s Last-Minute Dash
Terrence Malick is known for being unpredictable. Even though he’s still editing The Way of the Wind, it could still make it to Cannes. This film is rumored to be over three hours long, which isn’t surprising for Malick. His fans are keeping their fingers crossed that this masterpiece will be ready in time.
Iranian Cinema Takes Center Stage
Iranian filmmakers are making waves this year. Jafar Panahi’s latest film, shot in secret, is a strong contender for the Palme d’Or. Meanwhile, Saed Roustaee’s Mother and Son could also join the competition. Both films are expected to bring powerful stories to the festival.
Kelly Reichardt’s New Masterpiece
Kelly Reichardt’s The Mastermind has just finished post-production. She has a strong track record at Cannes, with her last film Showing Up being part of the 2022 competition. While Venice is also an option, many believe Cannes is her first choice.
A Title Change That Makes Sense
German filmmaker Mascha Schilinski’s film has a new title: Looking Into the Sun. Previously called The Doctor Says I’ll Be Alright, But I’m Feeling Blue, the new title is simpler and more impactful. This could be one of the surprises of the festival.
Belgium and Germany Step Up
Belgium might have two films in competition. The Dardenne brothers’ The Young Mother’s Home and Laura Wandel’s L’interet D’Adam are both getting positive buzz. Germany could also have two entries: Looking Into the Sun and Christian Petzold’s Miroirs No. 3, which would be Petzold’s first Cannes competition film.
Spike Lee’s Big Push
Spike Lee is fighting hard to get Highest 2 Lowest into the competition. After his success with BlacKkKlansman, Lee wants another Palme d’Or shot. However, with so many American filmmakers vying for slots, it might not be easy.
Wes Anderson, Jim Jarmusch, and More
Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme and Jim Jarmusch’s Father Mother Sister Brother are both in the mix. Ari Aster’s Eddington and Richard Linklater’s Nouvelle Vague are also possible entries. Terrence Malick’s The Way of the Wind could be the wildcard.
The Wait for Park Chan-wook and Others
Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice and Luca Guadagnino’s After the Hunt are still in post-production. Lynne Ramsay’s Die, My Love is also a question mark. These films might not make it to Cannes, but fans are hopeful.
Bi Gan’s Last-Minute Entry
Bi Gan’s Resurrection is still being filmed and edited at the same time. He plans to submit it right at the deadline. This unique approach could either pay off or miss the cutoff.
Final Predictions
With so many films in the running, here are the top 30 titles with the best shot at making the competition:
- Die, My Love (Lynne Ramsay)
- Alpha (Julia Ducournau)
- Father Mother Sister Brother (Jim Jarmusch)
- Eddington (Ari Aster)
- The Phoenician Scheme (Wes Anderson)
- Untitled (Jafar Panahi)
- The Way of the Wind (Terrence Malick)
- Sentimental Value (Joachim Trier)
- The Secret Agent (Kleber Mendoca Filho)
- The Young Mother’s Home (Jean-Pierre & Luc Dardenne)
- Yes! (Nadav Lapid)
- Disappearance (Kirill Serebrenikkov)
- Miroirs No. 3 (Christian Petzold)
- L’interet D’Adam (Laura Wandel)
- Looking into the Sun (Mascha Schilinski)
- Sirat (Oliver Laxe)
- Private Life (Rebecca Zlotowski)
- Une Affaire (Arnaud Desplechin)
- The Mastermind (Kelly Reichardt)
- Highest 2 Lowest (Spike Lee)
- Nouvelle Vague (Richard Linklater)
- Orphan (Laszlo Nemes)
- Two Prosecutors (Sergei Loznitsa)
- Furio (Mario Martone)
- Tu ne fera point d’image (Kaouther Ben Hania)
- The Love That Remains (Hlynur Pálmason)
- Silent Friend (Ildiko Enyedi)
- Resurrection (Bi Gan)
- Woman And Child (Saeed Roustaee)
- No Other Choice (Park Chan-wook)
Other Possibilities
- After the Hunt (Luca Guadagnino)
- Calle Malaga (Maryam Touzani)
- No Other Choice (Park Chan-wook)
- History of Sound (Oliver Hermanus)
- Yellow Letters (Ilker Catak)
- Duse (Pietro Marcello)
- Rosebushpruning (Karim Aïnouz)
- Marcel Pagnol (Sylvain Chomet)
- Dossier 173 (Dominik Moll)
- Enzo (Robin Campillo)
- Couture (Alice Wincour)
- Eagles of the Republic (Tarik Saleh)
- Romería (Carla Simon)
- Wake of Umbra (Carlos Reygadas)
- Dao (Alain Gomis)
- Love on Trial (Kôji Fukada)
- Rose (Markus Schleinzer)
- The Stories (Abu Bakr Shawky)
- Renoir (Chie Hayakawa)
- I Want Your Sex (Greg Araki)
- Dracula Park (Radu Jude)
As the days count down to the official lineup announcement, the excitement is building. With so many incredible films in the mix, this year’s Cannes Film Festival is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable and thrilling in recent memory. Stay tuned!
