The 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival (Cannes 2025) is gearing up to deliver another remarkable celebration of cinema, as the official competition and special selections bring together the best of auteur filmmaking, political storytelling, and artistic debuts. With Wes Anderson, Ari Aster, Richard Linklater, Julia Ducournau, and Kelly Reichardt among the heavyweights heading to the Croisette, Cannes 2025 looks set to balance star power with cinematic depth.
The festival will run from May 13 to May 24, 2025, with the main competition boasting 19 films from around the world. French actor Juliette Binoche will serve as the President of the Jury, while Hollywood icon Robert De Niro is set to receive the prestigious Honorary Palme d’Or, honoring his legacy that includes Cannes winners like Taxi Driver and The Mission.
Big Names in the Main Competition
Among the most talked-about entries this year is Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme, featuring Benicio Del Toro as an eccentric businessman. Known for his meticulous visual style and quirky storytelling, Anderson’s return is sure to be one of the festival’s artistic highlights.
Richard Linklater brings Nouvelle Vague, a film about the making of Jean-Luc Godard’s 1960 classic Breathless. By mixing homage with meta-commentary, Linklater adds a historical layer to the competition while exploring the heart of the French New Wave.
Another major name is Ari Aster, whose film Eddington stars Joaquin Phoenix and Emma Stone in a political satire set in a small-town election. Known for Hereditary and Beau Is Afraid, Aster’s new project promises a more grounded, darkly comedic shift.
Kelly Reichardt, the minimalist voice behind First Cow and Wendy and Lucy, returns to Cannes with The Mastermind—an art-heist drama set against the Vietnam War backdrop. Starring Josh O’Connor and John Magaro, the film blends history with emotional introspection.
Joachim Trier, celebrated for The Worst Person in the World, reunites with Renate Reinsve in Sentimental Value, which continues his exploration of human vulnerability.
Julia Ducournau, whose Titane won the Palme d’Or in 2021, returns with Alpha, another mysterious and potentially genre-bending entry.
Finally, Iranian dissident filmmaker Jafar Panahi returns with A Simple Accident, a likely politically charged drama that reaffirms Cannes’ role as a platform for global resistance and expression.
Un Certain Regard: Rising Talents and New Perspectives
The festival’s Un Certain Regard section, known for championing bold voices, includes two much-anticipated actor-director debuts. Scarlett Johansson makes her directorial debut with Eleanor the Great, a moving story of a woman in her 90s starting a new life in New York City.
Harris Dickinson, fresh from acting acclaim, turns director with Urchin, a character study centered on homelessness.
Also included in this section is Homebound by Neeraj Ghaywan, furthering Cannes’ commitment to showcasing powerful stories from the Indian subcontinent.
The diversity of this section underlines Cannes’ ongoing effort to amplify underrepresented voices and storytelling methods.
Out of Competition: Spectacle Meets Prestige
Beyond the Palme d’Or race, Cannes will host major premieres in its Out of Competition slate. Leading the charge is Tom Cruise’s Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, which will premiere on May 14. Cruise’s presence continues a recent tradition of Cannes showcasing large-scale Hollywood tentpoles alongside its auteur offerings.
Other high-profile screenings include Private View by Rebecca Zlotowski, marking Jodie Foster’s return to French-language cinema after over two decades, and Stories of Surrender, based on Bono’s acclaimed one-man stage show.
Russian director Kirill Serebrennikov will also present The Disappearance of Josef Mengele, a haunting exploration of history and identity.
Cannes Premiere and Special Screenings
The Cannes Premiere section will feature cinematic gems such as Colours of Time and La Femme La Plus Riche du Monde, while acclaimed animator Sylvain Chomet returns with A Magnificent Life, an animated feature promising whimsy and emotional depth.
These selections further demonstrate Cannes’ ability to curate an eclectic mix—ranging from global history to deeply personal tales.
Legacy and Anticipation
With Juliette Binoche heading the jury and Robert De Niro receiving a lifetime achievement honor, Cannes 2025 is poised to be both a celebration of cinematic legacy and a launchpad for future classics.
Following in the footsteps of recent Palme winners like Anora, Titane, and The Worst Person in the World, this year’s line-up blends social urgency, aesthetic innovation, and auteur signatures. Whether through political commentary, stylistic homage, or intimate drama, the films competing this year reflect a world in flux—and filmmakers trying to make sense of it through cinema.
As the festival opens on May 13, the eyes of the film world turn once again to the Croisette—where global stories, grand visions, and the next Palme d’Or await.
