The 2025 Official Selection of the Cannes Film Festival

 

The 78th Cannes Film Festival, taking place from May 13 to 24, 2025, promises a rich tapestry of global cinema, showcasing both seasoned auteurs and emerging talents. Under the presidency of French actress Juliette Binoche, the main competition jury includes notable figures such as Halle Berry and Jeremy Strong.

Official Selection – In Competition

This year's Palme d'Or race features 22 films from diverse backgrounds:

• "The Phoenician Scheme" by Wes Anderson: A stylized espionage tale set in the 1960s.

• "Eddington" by Ari Aster: A Western comedy exploring themes of identity and belonging.

• "Nouvelle Vague" by Richard Linklater: A homage to the French New Wave, blending fact and fiction.

• "Alpha" by Julia Ducournau: A psychological thriller delving into the human psyche.

• "Die, My Love" by Lynne Ramsay: An adaptation of Ariana Harwicz's novel, portraying a woman's descent into madness.

• "Sentimental Value" by Joachim Trier: A family drama featuring Renate Reinsve and Stellan Skarsgård.

• "The Young Mothers' Home" by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne: A poignant look at young women navigating motherhood.

• "Two Prosecutors" by Sergei Loznitsa: A historical drama set in 1937 Soviet Union, exploring themes of justice and morality.

• "Romería" by Carla Simón: The final installment in Simón's trilogy on rural Spain.

• "Sirât" by Óliver Laxe: A tale of a family's search for their daughter in the Moroccan desert.

Other notable entries include "The Mastermind" by Kelly Reichardt, "The History of Sound" by Oliver Hermanus, and "Resurrection" by Bi Gan.

Un Certain Regard

This section spotlights innovative storytelling and emerging voices:

• "Eleanor the Great" by Scarlett Johansson: Johansson's directorial debut, exploring themes of aging and self-discovery.

• "The Chronology of Water" by Kristen Stewart: An adaptation of Lidia Yuknavitch's memoir, marking Stewart's directorial debut.

• "Urchin" by Harris Dickinson: A gritty portrayal of youth and survival.

• "My Father's Shadow" by Akinola Davies Jr.: Nigeria's first official selection, delving into familial bonds and heritage.

• "Once Upon a Time in Gaza" by Tarzan and Arab Nasser: A narrative set against the backdrop of conflict, highlighting resilience and hope.

Out of Competition & Special Screenings

High-profile premieres and tributes include:

• "Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning" directed by Christopher McQuarrie, starring Tom Cruise.

• "Highest 2 Lowest" by Spike Lee: A documentary exploring socio-economic disparities.

• "Leave One Day" by Amélie Bonnin: The festival's opening film, a French comedy.

Additionally, Robert De Niro will be honored with the Honorary Palme d'Or for his outstanding contributions to cinema.

 Midnight Screenings

• LE ROI SOLEIL by Vincent Maël CARDONA

• HONEY DON’T by Ethan COEN

• DALLOWAY by Yann GOZLAN

• EXIT 8 by KAWAMURA Genki

• FENG LIN HUO SHAN by MAK Juno (SONS OF THE NEON NIGHT)

Cannes Premiere

• AMRUM by Fatih AKIN

• MA FRÈRE by Lise AKOKA & Romane GUERET

• SPLITSVILLE by Michael Angelo COVINO

• MAGALHÃES by Lav DIAZ

• RENAI SAIBAN by Kōji FUKADA (LOVE ON TRIAL)

• LA OLA de Sebastián LELIO (THE WAVE)

• CONNEMARA by Alex LUTZ

• ÁSTIN SEM EFTIR ER by Hlynur PÁLMASON (THE LOVE THAT REMAINS)

• ORWELL: 2+2=5 by Raoul PECK

• DAS VERSCHWINDEN DES JOSEF MENGELE by Kirill SEREBRENNIKOV (THE DISAPPEARANCE OF JOSEF MENGELE)

Special Screenings

• ARCO by Ugo BIENVENU | 1st film

• BONO: STORIES OF SURRENDER by Andrew Dominik

• DITES-LUI QUE JE L’AIME by Romane BOHRINGER (TELL HER I LOVE HER)

• MARCEL ET MONSIEUR PAGNOL by Sylvain CHOMET (A MAGNIFICENT LIFE)

• QUI BRILLE AU COMBAT by Joséphine JAPY | 1st film (THE WONDERERS)

• THE SIX BILLION DOLLAR MAN by Eugene JARECKI

• L’HOMME QUI A VU L’OURS QUI A VU L’HOMME by Pierre RICHARD

• MAMA by Or SINAI | 1st film

• AMÉLIE ET LA MÉTAPHYSIQUE DES TUBES by Maïlys VALLADE & Liane-Cho HAN | 1st film (LITTLE AMÉLIE)

Cannes Classics

Celebrating cinematic history, restored classics will be showcased:

• "The Gold Rush" (1925) by Charlie Chaplin: A 4K restoration marking its centennial.

• "Barry Lyndon" (1975) by Stanley Kubrick: A restored version of the period drama.

• "Amores Perros" (2000) by Alejandro González Iñárritu: A revisit to the acclaimed Mexican drama.

And many other films in between, with a blend of global narratives, debut features, and cinematic tributes, the 2025 Cannes Film Festival reaffirms its position as a premier platform for celebrating the art of filmmaking.