The most revered film festival, Cannes 2024, is around the corner, creating hype over which titles will be officially selected for the 77th edition of the festival, which will be held from May 14 to 25. The submission process for Official Selection closed on March 15, ahead of the Paris press conference on April 11. To everyone’s delight, some anticipated films of the year are expected to mark their premiere at the International Film Festival. George Miller’s Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga has been confirmed to premiere out of competition on May 15.
As the festival’s selection committee reviews submissions for this year’s event, Screen’s team evaluates movies from various countries that are being considered for inclusion in either the Official Selection or one of the festival’s parallel sections.
America
In the US, Sean Baker’s upcoming romantic comedy “Anora,” following his previous work “Red Rocket,” could secure a spot alongside Harmony Korine’s “Baby Invasion” for a Midnight slot. Additionally, there’s speculation about David Cronenberg’s return to the festival with the horror thriller “The Shrouds,” featuring Vincent Cassel, Diane Kruger, and Guy Pearce.
Meanwhile, Michel Franco’s “Dreams,” starring Jessica Chastain, is under consideration, although its status is yet to be confirmed. However, anticipated films by two prominent Latin American filmmakers, Pablo Larraín’s “Maria” and Lucrecia Martel’s documentary “Chocobar,” may not be ready in time for Cannes. Instead, they could premiere in Venice or later in the year.
Other potential Latin American selections include Celina Murga’s “The Freshly Cut Grass” and Luis Ortega’s “Kill The Jockey,” boasting a strong cast and intriguing storylines. From Hollywood, there’s a buzz around Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” and John Krasinski’s family fantasy project “If” for possible inclusion.
Yorgos Lanthimos’s “Kinds Of Kindness,” starring Emma Stone, Willem Dafoe, and Margaret Qualley, is also a contender, especially with its US release date in June. However, Francis Ford Coppola’s “Megalopolis” may not make it in time, although it would undoubtedly be a significant return to Cannes for the esteemed director.
UK and Ireland
Numerous debut films from the UK are vying for spots in Cannes sidebars, aiming to replicate the success of Molly Manning Walker’s 2023 Un Certain Regard winner, “How To Have Sex.” Among these contenders is “Hot Milk,” directed by Rebecca Lenkiewicz. The film marking Lenkiewicz’s directorial debut is based on Deborah Levy’s novel and features Emma Mackey, Fiona Shaw, and Vicky Krieps. Additionally, Sandhya Suri’s narrative feature debut, “Santosh,” set in India and produced by Mike Goodridge’s Good Chaos, is generating interest, alongside Nadia Fall’s debut, “Brides,” and Laura Carreira’s “On Falling,” produced by Sixteen Films.
Sean Robert Dunn’s “The Fall Of Sir Douglas Weatherford” from Scotland, Andrea Arnold’s “Bird,” and Rungano Nyoni’s “On Becoming A Guinea Fowl” are also potential contenders. Ireland could have a strong presence with debuts like Chris Andrews’ “Bring Them Down,” and Ariane Labed’s “September Says,” both produced with support from Screen Ireland and Mubi.
Aislinn Clarke’s “Fréwaka” and Babak Anvari’s “Hallow Road,” shot in Wicklow and backed by Screen Ireland, are also generating buzz. Additionally, US director Joshua Oppenheimer’s “The End,” featuring UK and Irish elements, is a contender with its apocalyptic musical storyline starring Tilda Swinton and George MacKay, shot in Ireland, Italy, and Germany.
France
Numerous well-known French filmmakers are expected to attend Cannes, including veteran director Jacques Audiard, known for his Palme d’Or-winning film “Dheepan.” His latest project, Emilia Perez, is a musical crime drama set in Mexico. It features a cartel boss undergoing a sex change and has a star-studded cast that includes Selena Gomez, Zoe Saldana, and Edgar Ramirez.
Christophe Honore’s “Marcello Mio” is also generating buzz, with an ensemble cast led by Catherine Deneuve, Chiara Mastroianni, Fabrice Luchini, and Hugh Skinner. Leos Carax’s “It’s Not Me” promises to be a unique blend of the filmmaker’s extensive career, starring Denis Lavant. Arnaud Desplechin’s “Spectateurs!” explores the theme of going to the movies, while Audrey Diwan’s “Emmanuelle” offers a modern take on the French erotic classic. Additionally, actress-turned-director Noemie Merlant’s “The Balconettes” and Gilles Lelouche’s “Beating Hearts” are among the anticipated French entries.
Marjane Satrapi’s “Dear Paris” features an ensemble cast including Monica Bellucci and Rossy De Palma, while Michel Hazanavicius’s “The Most Precious Of Cargoes” is a Second World War drama based on Jean-Claude Grumberg’s novel. Literary adaptations such as “And Their Children After Them” and “Saint-Ex” are also in the mix, along with potential entries like “Monsieur Aznavour” and “Night Call.” Moreover, French sales agents are representing international directors’ films like Kirill Serebrennikov’s “Limonov: The Ballad Of Eddie” and Nabil Ayouch’s “Everybody Loves Touda,” adding to the diverse lineup of potential Cannes contenders.
Spain
Spanish filmmakers are gearing up for Cannes, with notable names like Pedro Almodovar, Oliver Laxe, and Carla Simon working on their latest projects, although the Spanish contenders for Cannes mostly consist of emerging talents. Albert Serra, a regular at Cannes, has completed a documentary titled “Afternoons Of Solitude” about bullfighting, but it’s rumored to premiere at San Sebastian instead.
Javier Rebollo’s “Close To The Sultan” is a potential Cannes entry, produced by Luis Minarro, known for producing Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s Palme d’Or winner “Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives.” Pilar Palomero’s third feature, “Glimmer,” starring Patricia Lopez Arnaiz, could also debut at Cannes after her previous successes in Berlin and San Sebastián. Jaime Rosales, a Cannes regular, might return with “Morlaix,” shot in France and starring Melanie Thierry. Fernando Trueba’s “A Haunted Heart,” starring Matt Dillon, is another contender following his selection for the 2020 Cannes edition.
Carlos Marques-Marcet, known for “The Days To Come” and “10,000 KM,” could make his Cannes debut with “They Will Be Dust,” a musical about a terminally ill woman. Meanwhile, the animated musical “Rock Bottom,” directed by Maria Ternor and inspired by Robert Wyatt’s life, is also in contention for a Cannes premiere.
Nordics
After showcasing his previous two films, “Sweat” (2020) and “The Hereafter” (2015), at Cannes, Swedish director Magnus von Horn is poised for another appearance with his latest work, “The Girl In The Needle.” This monochrome period drama, featuring Trine Dyrholm and Vic Carmen Sonne, draws inspiration from a real-life serial killer who targeted infants between 1913 and 1920.
Icelandic filmmaker Runar Runarsson, known for “Volcano” (2011) and “Sparrows” (2015), could also return to Cannes with “When The Light Breaks,” portraying the upheaval in the life of a young art student during a summer’s day in Reykjavik. From Finland, Pirjo Honkasalo’s “Orenda” emerges as another potential Cannes entry. Honkasalo, acclaimed for “Flame Top” (1981) and “Concrete Night” (2013), presents a relationship drama featuring Alma Pöysti and Pirkko Saisio.
Additionally, Sweden may present “Armand,” the debut feature from Halfdan Ullman Tondel, starring Renate Reinsve, and “Redoubt,” directed by Jon Skoog and starring Denis Lavant. Both films offer unique narratives and are backed by notable producers, hinting at their potential Cannes debut.
Benelux
The Benelux region is spearheaded by the predominantly Dutch co-production “Mr K,” which features Crispin Glover as the titular character trapped in a remote hotel overnight. Tallulah H. Schwab, whose debut feature “Confetti Harvest” premiered at Berlin’s Generation KPlus in 2014, directed this film, which marks her second directorial venture.
Belgian filmmaker Christina Vanderkerckhove presents “Milano,” exploring the strained relationship between a 12-year-old deaf boy and his father when his estranged mother reappears. Vanderkerckhove, known for her 2017 documentary “Rhabot,” demonstrates the potential for Cannes recognition.
Directors Leonardo Van Dijl and Jan and Raf Roosens transition from Cannes-selected shorts to feature debuts. “Julie Keeps Quiet,” Van Dijl’s maiden feature, delves into the world of professional tennis following a young player’s silence amidst her coach’s investigation. Meanwhile, the Roosens’ “Come Back” from Belgium follows a 13-year-old girl navigating her DJ mother’s techno lifestyle, seeking her own identity and talent. Starring Veerle Baetens, the film showcases the directors’ Cannes aspirations after their 2015 short “Buddy” garnered attention.
Asia and Australia
The Croisette might witness the debut of two Australian films. The crime thriller “Inside,” featuring Guy Pearce as a soon-to-be-released prisoner, is directed by Charles Williams, known for winning the 2018 short-film Palme d’Or for “All These Creatures.” On the other hand, Adam Elliot’s stop-motion animation “Memoir Of A Snail” narrates the tale of Grace Puddle, a collector of snails, romance novels, and guinea pigs, with voice talents including Jacki Weaver, Eric Bana, and Kodi Smit-McPhee. Elliot, an Oscar winner for “Harvie Krumpet,” has a notable background with his 2009 debut feature “Mary And Max.”
Representing Japan, Kiyoshi Kurosawa presents the French-language thriller “Serpent’s Path,” an adaptation of his 1998 Japanese feature. The remake stars Ko Shibasaki and Damien Bonnard and explores themes of revenge, with Kurosawa’s Cannes history dating back to 2003. From Korea, Oh Seung-uk’s “Revolver” stands out, starring Jeon Do-yeon, a Cannes Best Actress winner, as a former police officer seeking revenge after an unjust imprisonment. Ryu Seung-wan’s “Beterang 2” and Soi Cheang’s “Twilight Of The Warriors: Walled In,” set in 1980s Hong Kong, are also anticipated, showcasing a blend of action and drama.
