Star-Powered Slate Marks Return of Iconic Filmmakers and Rising Talents to the French Riviera
The 78th Cannes Film Festival is gearing up for another star-studded edition as the official lineup, revealed on April 10, 2025, features an impressive roster of celebrated auteurs, including Wes Anderson, Ari Aster, and Richard Linklater. The festival will run from May 13 to May 24, with acclaimed French actress Juliette Binoche presiding as Jury President.
Festival Builds on Oscar Momentum With High-Profile Additions
After the 2024 edition launched Oscar contenders such as Anora, Emilia Pérez, and The Substance, expectations were high for this year’s selection. Cannes artistic director Thierry Frémaux, speaking alongside festival president Iris Knobloch at a press conference in Paris, embraced the challenge. “We feel like athletes defending a title,” he remarked, alluding to the festival’s consistent delivery of critically acclaimed films in recent years.
Big-Name Directors Return With Bold New Projects
Among the most anticipated entries is Ari Aster’s Eddington, a genre-blending Western set during a pandemic, starring Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone, and Pedro Pascal. Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme also makes the competition list, with Benicio Del Toro playing a European opportunist. Meanwhile, Richard Linklater enters the race with Nouvelle Vague, a French-language film exploring the legacy of Jean-Luc Godard and the French New Wave.
French filmmaker Julia Ducournau, who won the Palme d’Or in 2021 for Titane, returns with Alpha, a drama set in 1980s New York about a young child navigating life with a parent diagnosed with AIDS. Other notable titles include Kelly Reichardt’s The Mastermind, an art heist film set during the Vietnam War, and Oliver Hermanus’ The History of Sound, starring Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor.
Competition Features Strong Female Representation
Out of the 19 films selected for competition, six are directed by women — a notable benchmark for the festival. Returning veterans include Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne with Young Mothers and Joachim Trier with Sentimental Value, a follow-up to his Cannes breakout The Worst Person in the World.
Jafar Panahi Returns Amid Political Turmoil
Acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi will also debut his latest film Un Simple Accident. Panahi’s 2022 film No Bears was released during his imprisonment and only garnered global attention after he began a hunger strike. His inclusion this year reaffirms Cannes’ ongoing support for politically embattled filmmakers.
Spike Lee Confirms ‘Highest 2 Lowest’ for Out-of-Competition Premiere
While some highly anticipated titles like Terrence Malick’s The Way of the Wind and Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another didn’t appear in the lineup, Spike Lee confirmed via Instagram that his latest film Highest 2 Lowest, starring Denzel Washington, will premiere out of competition. “Da New SPIKE LEE JOINT… has been invited to da 2025 CANNES INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL,” he wrote.
Un Certain Regard Showcases Directorial Debuts from Johansson and Dickinson
The Un Certain Regard section, known for spotlighting unique and emerging voices, will host Scarlett Johansson’s directorial debut Eleanor the Great, starring June Squibb. Actor Harris Dickinson will also debut his first feature Urchin in this category, joining an eclectic mix of innovative storytelling.
Special Screenings and Honors Add Star Power
Music icon Bono will attend the premiere of Bono: Stories of Surrender, directed by Andrew Dominik, which documents the U2 frontman’s one-man stage show. Cannes also confirmed that Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning will launch at the festival, continuing the franchise’s strong ties with the Croisette. Tom Cruise was previously honored with an honorary Palme d’Or in 2022.
This year’s opening night film will be Leave One Day, the debut feature from French director Amélie Bonnin. Robert De Niro will receive an honorary Palme d’Or during the opening ceremony, adding another layer of prestige to the festival.
Historic Jury Leadership
Juliette Binoche’s appointment as Jury President marks the first time in 60 years that two women have consecutively held the post, following in the footsteps of Greta Gerwig in 2024.
As the film world turns its gaze to the French Riviera, Cannes 2025 promises to once again set the stage for cinematic innovation, political commentary, and award-season buzz.