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Source: IndieWire
Being one of the most highly revered film-going events to be found across the globe, the Cannes Film Festival, which takes place on a yearly basis (usually around the month of May) in the French city of Cannes, will often set a standard as to which films can be deemed as among the best of the best. While there can be as many as thousands of feature-length and short films that are submitted to festival organizers each year with the hopes of being selected for the annual line-up, only a fraction of those will end up making the cut and receiving exhibition at one of the various venues that have opted to take part in the festival. Because of this, if a film does find its way to Cannes, there’s more often than not something about it that’s worth taking into serious consideration. Whether it’s a major studio release hoping to use good word-of-mouth to further draw attention to itself, a passion project for a filmmaker that has previously garnered much acclaim for this past cinematic efforts, or the feature film debut of an up-and-comer who might have what it takes to become the next big name, its chances of success can be greatly boosted by the promotion it receives from inclusion at the Cannes Film Festival. This year alone, there are plenty of festival selections that are looking to earn the support of a major distributor and move further along their paths to critical and commercial success, and while not all of them have been picked up yet (in fact, some of them may not even be picked up at all), those that are being heavily considered for widespread distribution will continue to make their case as they shine upon the big screens that one can access while attending the festival. There are too many notable titles to list at once, but here’s a handful of them that perhaps stand out a bit more than the rest:
The Apprentice (directed by Ali Abassi) – to say that Donald Trump has become a controversial figure over the past few years would be something of an understatement, so it should come as no surprise that a film about his history would attract the attention of so many. Starring Sebastian Stan as Trump during his earlier years, this biographical drama looks to be every bit as enticing as it is harrowing.
Bird (directed by Andrea Arnold) – little is currently known about this coming-of-age drama, which is likely the result of major plot details deliberately being withheld by distributor Cornerstone Films. What has been revealed is the starring of Barry Keogan and Franz Rogowski as lead characters Bug and Bird, whose dynamic could result in one of the most emotionally moving features to come out of this year’s festival.
Christmas Eve on Miller’s Point (directed by Tyler Taormina) – on top lead actors Michael Cera and Elsie Fisher, one will also be able to spot the children of iconic filmmakers Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese among the cast. Such an ensemble is more than enough to earn the attention of festival attendees, yet it’s the film’s careful mix of light-hearted comedy and family drama that will hopefully keep them in their seats.
Emilia Perez (directed by Jacques Ardiard) – the director of 2012’s “Rust and Bone” seeks to be a major contender for the Palme d’Or once more, and his latest film could very well be his most ambitious work yet. A comedic crime thriller featuring Zoe Saldana, Selena Gomez, and Edgar Ramirez in the lead roles, this film appears to have what it takes to attract the attention of festival-goers, if not the big prize itself.
Megalopolis (directed by Francis Ford Coppola) – it’s been quite a while since the renowned director of “The Godfather” brought anything to the big screen, and with this sci-fi drama, he’s looking to make a comeback to end all comebacks. With a budget of over $100 million and a cast that features the likes of Adam Driver, Giancarlo Esposito, and Nathalie Emmanuel, this is easily one of the most notable titles that can be found at this year’s festival.
Motel Destino (directed by Karim Aïnouz) – 2019 saw Aïnouz’s “Invisible Life” win Un Certain Regard at that year’s Cannes Film Festival, while “Firebrand” from last year contended for the Palme d’Or. His latest feature, an erotic thriller set in the heart of his native Brazil, proves that Aïnouz is not yet finished with trying to win over Cannes audiences, and given his past with the festival, there are likely already those looking forward to his latest offering.
Oh, Canada (directed by Paul Schrader) – though perhaps best known for writing the script for the 1976 classic “Taxi Driver”, Schrader has also stepped into the position of director on multiple occasions. This drama serves as his latest cinematic creation, and with lead actor Richard Gere already attracting much buzz for his performance in this film, this could be one of the more unexpected breakouts of this year’s event.
Queens of Drama (directed by Alexis Langlois) – those associated with the making of this musical drama have described it as possibly “the queerest film [one has] ever seen”, a bold claim to make but not one without merit. In depicting a romance between two popular performers – one’s a pop singer, the other’s a punk rocker – this French feature starring Louiza Aura and Gio Ventura could very easily be the next big Cannes inclusion to take the world by storm.
Savages! (directed by Claude Barras) – it was only a few years ago that Barras’ previous animated feature “My Life as a Zucchini” earned its way into a nomination for Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards. He could very easily repeat that feat with this latest stop-motion creation, one that tells the story of a baby orangutan which also serves as a poignant and relevant pro-environmental narrative.
