The Directors’ Fortnight 2025, an independent section running alongside the Cannes Film Festival, has revealed its 57th edition lineup, spotlighting a vibrant mix of established auteurs and rising international voices. Curated by artistic director Julien Rejl, this year’s selection includes powerful narratives, genre-defying works, and bold new voices from across the globe.
Robin Campillo’s ‘Enzo’ to Open Directors’ Fortnight
Opening the 2025 Directors’ Fortnight is Enzo, directed by Robin Campillo, best known for his award-winning film BPM (Beats Per Minute). Campillo steps in after the passing of his close collaborator Laurent Cantet, with whom he co-wrote The Class, the 2008 Palme d’Or winner. Enzo follows a young apprentice mason in Marseille whose life changes after forming a bond with a Ukrainian colleague. The film stars newcomers Eloy Pohu and Maksym Slivinskyi, alongside Élodie Bouchez and Pierfrancesco Favino.
Eva Victor’s ‘Sorry, Baby’ to Close the Section
Closing the selection is Sorry, Baby, directed, written, and starring Eva Victor. Premiered at the Sundance Film Festival 2024, the film was quickly acquired by A24, known for distributing indie hits like Moonlight and Everything Everywhere All at Once. Produced by Barry Jenkins, Sorry, Baby centers on a college professor grappling with recovery after sexual assault, featuring acclaimed performances by Naomi Ackie and Lucas Hedges.
Christian Petzold Returns with ‘Miroirs No. 3’
Renowned German filmmaker Christian Petzold presents his latest feature, Miroirs No. 3, marking his fourth collaboration with actress Paula Beer. The film follows an aspiring pianist whose life is upended after a tragic car accident. Petzold, whose 2023 film Afire earned the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize at the Berlin Film Festival, continues to explore emotional depths through minimalist storytelling.
Genre Thrills: ‘Dangerous Animals’ and ‘Lucky Lu’
Sean Byrne’s Dangerous Animals brings genre excitement to the lineup. The shark-obsessed serial killer thriller stars Jai Courtney, Hassie Harrison, and Josh Heuston, and has already been picked up by IFC Films and Shudder. Meanwhile, Lloyd Lee Choi presents Lucky Lu, adapted from his acclaimed short Same Old. The film tells the story of a Chinese delivery driver in New York whose stolen e-bike sparks a community crisis as he prepares to reunite with his long-separated family. Taiwanese actor Chang Chen, known for Dune and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, leads the cast.
Emerging Talent and International Highlights
The 2025 lineup embraces a wide array of global perspectives. Iraqi filmmaker Hasan Hadi debuts The President’s Cake, a story of a 9-year-old girl baking for Saddam Hussein. Canadian director Anne Émond’s Peak Everything offers a quirky romantic tale involving a kennel owner and a light therapy lamp rep. French comedies such as Anthony Cordier’s Middle Class and Thomas Ngijol’s Cameroonian detective thriller Indomptables round out the local presence.
Documentary and Experimental Work
Among the nonfiction highlights is Militantropos, a collaborative documentary by Yelizaveta Smith, Alina Gorlova, and Simon Mozgovyi. The film delves into the psychological impact of the Russia-Ukraine war on civilians, promising a raw and reflective account of wartime resilience.
Full Feature Lineup of Directors’ Fortnight 2025
- Enzo by Robin Campillo (Opening Film)
- Amour Apocalypse by Anne Émond
- Brand New Landscape by Yuiga Danzuka
- Classe Moyenne (Middle Class) by Anthony Cordier
- Dangerous Animals by Sean Byrne
- Wild Foxes by Valéry Carnoy
- The Girl in the Snow by Louise Hémon
- The Girls We Want by Prïncia Car
- Girl on Edge by Jinghao Zhou
- Indomptables by Thomas Ngijol
- Kokuho by Lee Sang-il
- Lucky Lu by Lloyd Lee Choi
- Militantropos by Yelizaveta Smith, Alina Gorlova, and Simon Mozgovyi
- Miroirs No. 3 by Christian Petzold
- La Mort N’existe Pas by Félix Dufour-Laperrière
- The President’s Cake by Hasan Hadi
- Que Ma Volonté Soit Faite by Julia Kowalski
- Sorry, Baby by Eva Victor (Closing Film)
With a lineup rich in cultural nuance, genre experimentation, and emotional storytelling, the 2025 Directors’ Fortnight reaffirms its commitment to cinematic originality beyond the mainstream spotlight.