This morning brought what is routinely the most tantalizing news of any given year, namely the line-up for the Cannes Film Festival, inarguably the biggest and best showcase of world cinema on the planet, with New York and Toronto barely nipping at its heels.
The out-of-competition selection includes the bigger titles, includingSteven Spielberg’s mo-cap extravaganzaThe BFG,Shane Black’sThe Nice Guys, andJodie Foster’sMoney Monster, but per usual, the real treats are in the competition line-up.
The festival opens withWoody Allen’sCafe Society, starringJesse EisenbergandKristen Stewart, and Stewart is also top-liningPersonal Shopper, the English-language latest from the talented French auteurOlivier Assayas,who last directed Stewart in the gorgeous but overpraisedClouds of Sils Maria.
There’s also the latest work from the unparalleledPedro Almodovar,Julieta, though considering his connection to the recently unveiled Panama Papers, Almodovar might not actually show up to do press.
Two of Romania’s most exciting filmmakers are coming in with new works, namelyCristi Puiu’sSieranevadaandCristian Mungiu’sFamily Photos, his follow-up to the stunningBeyond the Hills.
Beyond Allen, America is represented byJim Jarmusch, who is bringing in his long-awaited follow-up toOnly Lovers Left Alive,Paterson, which starsAdam Driveras a bus driver, and Jeff Nichols' follow-up toMidnight Special, the interracial-marriage dramaLoving;Sean Pennwill also debut his latest directorial effort,The Last Face.
Image via Misty Mountains
Germany’sMaren Adeis returning withToni Erdmann, her first film since 2009’s exquisiteEveryone Else, while the UK is also repped here by one of its most talented female directors,Andrea Arnold, who will premiere herAmerican Honeyin the competition.
The Argentinian auteurKleber Mondonca Filhowill bring his hugely anticipated follow-up to Neighboring Sounds,Aquarius, and Belgian titans the Dardenne brothers, who have a tendency to win the Palm d’Or, are coming back withThe Unknown Girl.
New films byXavier Dolan,Bruno Dumont, andAlain Guiraudicstand alongside Assayas to represent the French faction, while bothPaul VerhoevenandNicolas Winding Refnwill also bring their latest -ElleandThe Neon Demon, respectively - to the festival as well.
Image via Memento Films
To be honest, I could be here all day telling you why the latest films fromAlbert Serra,Ken Loach, andPark Chan-wookare reasons to be excited for the future of film, but I’ve done enough gushing.
Check out the full line-up below and if you have any chance to get over to Cannes and catch any of these movies, take it.
The full list of films:
In Competition:
TONI ERDMANN by Maren Ade
JULIETA by Pedro Almodovar
AMERICAN HONEY by Andrea Arnold
LA FILLE INCONNUE by Jean-Pierre & Luc Dardenne
PERSONAL SHOPPER by Olivier Assayas
JUSTE LA FIN DU MONDE by Xavier Dolan
MA LOUTE by Bruno Dumont
PATERSON by Jim Jarmusch
RESTER VERTICAL by Alain Guiraudic
AQUARIUS by Kleber Mondonca Filho
MAL DE PIERRES by Nicole Garcia
I, DANIEL BLAKE by Ken Loach
MA’ROSA by Brillante Mendoza
BACALAUREAT by Cristian Mungiu
LOVING by Jeff Nichols
AGASSI by Park Chan-Wook
THE LAST FACE by Sean Penn
SIERANEVADA by Cristi Puiu
ELLE by Paul Verhoeven
THE NEON DEMON by Nicolas Winding-Refn
Out-of-competition:
THE BFG by Steven Spielberg
GOKUNG by Na Hong-Jon
MONEY MONSTER by Jodie Foster
THE NICE GUYS by Shane Black
MidnightScreenings:
GIMME DANGER by Jim Jarmusch
BU-SAN-HAENG by Yeon Sang-Ho
Special Screenings:
L’ULTIMA SPIAGGIA by Thanos Anastopoulos & Davide Del Degan
HISSEIN HABRE, UNE TRAGEDIE TCHADIENNE by Mahamat Saleh-Haroun
LA MORT DE LOUIS XIV by Albert Serra
LE CANCRE by Paul Vecchiali
Un Certain Regard:
VAROONEGI by Benham Behzadi
APPRENTICE by Boo Junfeng
VOIR DU PAYS by Delphine Coulin & Muriel Coulin
LA DANSEUSE by Stephanie Di Giusto
ESHTEBAK by Mohamed Diasso
LA TORTUE ROUGE by Michael Dudok De Wit
FUCHI NI TATSU by Fukada Koji
OMOR SHAKHSIYU by Maha Haj
ME’EVER LAHARIM VEHAGVAOT by Eran Kolirin
AFTER THE STORM by Kore-Eda Hirokazu
HYMYILEVA MIESby Juho Kuosmanen
LA LARGA NOCHE DE FRANCISCO SANCTIS by Francisco Marquez & Andrea Testa
CAINI by Bogdan Mirica
PERICLE IL NERO by Stefano Mordini
CAPTAIN FANTASTIC by Matt Ross
UCHENIK by Kirill Serebrennikov
Image via Big Beach Films and Raindog Films
