- Cannes 2025 lineup features auteur-driven premieres by Wes Anderson, Ari Aster, and Richard Linklater.
- Scarlett Johansson makes her directorial debut with Eleanor the Great.
- Robert De Niro to receive an honorary Palme d’Or at the festival’s opening.
The 78th Cannes Film Festival is setting the stage for a star-studded year. Big names like Wes Anderson, Ari Aster, and Richard Linklater headline the competition slate.
This year also brings returning favorites like Julia Ducournau with her emotional New York-set drama Alpha. The Dardenne brothers are also back with Jeunes mères.
Art Meets Icons: Inside the Bold and Diverse Lineup of Cannes 2025
Cannes 2025’s selection demonstrates a balance of auteur prestige and topical storytelling. Ari Aster’s Eddington stands out for merging Western aesthetics with pandemic-era tension, reflecting post-COVID anxieties through an unconventional lens. Meanwhile, Linklater’s French-language Nouvelle Vague showcases his ongoing fascination with cinema history and cultural introspection.
The lineup is also notable for its emphasis on female storytellers. Julia Ducournau returns after her Palme d’Or win with Alpha. This film revisits the 1980s AIDS crisis through the eyes of a child. Newcomer Amelie Bonnin’s Leave One Day earns the rare honor of opening the festival with a debut. This is a clear statement by Cannes in support of emerging female directors.
Veteran filmmakers also mark their presence. The Dardenne brothers bring their signature social realism to Jeunes mères. Jafar Panahi’s A Simple Accident continues his legacy of politically charged cinema. Additionally, Kelly Reichardt’s The Mastermind, set during the Vietnam War, highlights the festival’s interest in cross-generational trauma and resistance.
In a symbolic move, Juliette Binoche follows Greta Gerwig as jury president. This marks the first back-to-back female presidents in over 60 years. Paired with the honorary Palme d’Or for Robert De Niro, Cannes 2025 underscores a blend of progressive vision and classic reverence.
Cannes 2025 is poised to deliver a thrilling cinematic celebration. This event bridges legacy and innovation, elevates new voices, and reflects the evolving pulse of global storytelling.
“Cinema is a mirror by which we often see ourselves.” – Alejandro González Iñárritu
