At Cannes stellar returns, eagerly awaited debuts and a single Italian film in competition.
In the 1990s , her powerful and moving performance in Kieslowski’s Three Colors Trilogy captivated even the most discerning audiences. The three colors – blue, white, and red – are those of the French flag, and she has become a true icon of French cinema. Juliette Binoche is one of the brightest stars of the 78th Cannes Film Festival, taking on the role of president of the international jury tasked with awarding the Palme d’Or. Joining her are Halle Berry, Carlos Reygadas, Hong Sang-soo, Jeremy Strong, Leïla Slimani, Payal Kapadia, Dieudo Hamadi, and Alba Rohrwacher. The twentyone films in competition bring together known voices and emerging perspectives. Among the most anticipated contenders are The Phoenician Scheme by Wes Anderson, Eddington by Ari Aster, Nouvelle Vague by Richard Linklater, Sentimental Value by Joachim Trier, Jeunes Mères by the Dardenne brothers, Alpha by Julia Ducournau, and It Was Just an Accident by Jafar Panahi. Italy is represented by a single title: Fuori by Mario Martone, which centers on the figure of Goliarda Sapienza, a key voice in twentieth-century Italian women’s literature.
The red carpet promises to shine just as brightly. Jodie Foster arrives on the Croisette as the star of Vie Privée by Rebecca Zlotowski. Josh O’Connor features in two films – Kelly Reichardt’s The Mastermind and The History of Sound, a gay love story directed by Oliver Hermanus and co-starring Paul Mescal. Two impressive ensemble casts will also light up the festival: Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone, Pedro Pascal, and Austin Butler star in Ari Aster’s western; while Benicio del Toro, Bill Murray, Michael Cera, Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Scarlett Johansson appear in Wes Anderson’s thriller. Johansson will also debut her first directorial feature, Eleonor the Great. Fate has it that Cannes will also reunite former Hollywood couple Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman: Cruise is attending the world premiere of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, while Kidman will receive the 2025 Women In Motion Award. And finally, there’s him – a legend who needs no introduction. Robert De Niro, one of the greatest actors of all time and an iconic face of Hollywood, will be awarded the Honorary Palme d’Or during the opening ceremony. The actor commented on the award: “Now when there’s so much in the world pulling us apart, Cannes brings us together – storytellers, filmmakers, fans, and friends. It’s like coming home.” Dear Robert – we’d like to tell him – in Europe, you’ll always be welcome.
