Last year, the Cannes Film Festival was graced by the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio, Harrison Ford, and Scarlett Johansson as they premiered their latest blockbusters. However, this year, Hollywood’s presence might be less prominent due to the actors and writers strikes from last year and the ongoing economic challenges faced by studios. But fear not, there will still be stars shining on the red carpet at the 2024 edition of one of the world’s most prestigious film festivals.
A Spotlight on European Auteurs
According to industry insiders on both sides of the Atlantic, the upcoming Cannes Film Festival will have a greater emphasis on European auteurs. Justine Triet’s “Anatomy of a Fall” and Jonathan Glazer’s “The Zone of Interest” set the stage last year with five Oscar nominations each. The festival is eager to continue this trend by showcasing more European talent this year.
Prominent Films on the Radar
While the deadline for registering feature-length films for the Official Selection is approaching, many films are yet to be screened by the selection committee. Cannes chief Thierry Fremaux has already made a trip to Los Angeles, hoping to secure a few more high-profile titles while attending the Oscars.
Variety has confirmed that several highly anticipated European films and independent movies are being submitted for Cannes 2024. Jacques Audiard’s musical melodrama “Emilia Perez” starring Zoe Saldana and Selena Gomez, Kirill Serebrennikov’s “Limonov, The Ballad of Eddie” starring Ben Whishaw, and Ali Abbasi’s Donald Trump movie “The Apprentice” featuring Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong are among the noteworthy submissions. Other notable films include David Cronenberg’s “The Shrouds” starring Vincent Cassel and Diane Kruger, Audrey Diwan’s “Emmanuelle” starring Noemie Merlant and Noemie Watts, and Gilles Lellouche’s “L’Amour Ouf” featuring Adele Exarchopoulos and Francois Civil.
Notable Returns and Anticipated Films
Cannes is also eyeing Yorgos Lanthimos’ “Kinds of Kindness,” which marks the director’s mysterious follow-up to “Poor Things” and reunites him with Emma Stone. Andrea Arnold’s “Bird” starring Barry Keoghan and Franz Rogowski, as well as Francis Ford Coppola’s self-produced epic “Megalopolis” with Adam Driver and Forest Whitaker, are also generating buzz. Coppola, who famously debuted his masterpiece “Apocalypse Now” in Cannes 45 years ago, is expected to draw a lot of attention if he holds a press conference for “Megalopolis.”
The Play of Expectations
Luca Guadagnino’s “Queer” is another film that Cannes officials are eager to see. However, there are some anticipated movies that will not be playing at Cannes, including Steve McQueen’s “Blitz” and Sam Taylor-Johnson’s Amy Winehouse biopic “Back to Black.” These films have release dates in the UK and France, but unfortunately, they won’t be ready in time for Cannes.
Blockbuster Alert
The only confirmed blockbuster-sized U.S. title in the pipeline for Cannes is George Miller’s “Furiosa,” set to be released internationally by Warner Bros. on May 22. It’s no surprise, considering that “Mad Max: Fury Road” had its grand debut at Cannes in 2015. Unlike last year’s battle between Cannes and Venice for the rights to debut Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon,” there hasn’t been any similar duel this year. Additionally, Netflix is not expected to make a comeback on the Croisette, at least until Cannes allows streaming movies to compete. The 77th edition of the Cannes Film Festival is scheduled to take place from May 14-25.
Stay tuned for more updates on the Cannes Film Festival 2024. Exciting times are ahead!
Source: Variety