Cannes Film Festival 2025 Set for Fierce Competition Among Filmmakers

CANNES, France — As the Cannes Film Festival draws near, anticipation is building among filmmakers and fans alike regarding the official selection for this year’s prestigious event. The festival’s artistic director, Thierry Fremaux, is in the midst of curating what promises to be a competitive lineup, with a press conference scheduled next month.

As of now, only three films are confirmed for the festival, with Variety reporting that Jim Jarmusch‘s highly awaited film featuring Cate Blanchett and Tom Waits is among them. The recent edition of the festival faced challenges due to the double Hollywood strikes but ultimately proved successful, highlighted by Sean Baker‘s Palme d’Or-winning film, ‘Anora,’ which also claimed the Oscar for Best Picture.

This year’s festival is poised to surpass its quieter predecessor, with insiders describing the atmosphere as indicative of “the first post-strike Cannes.” A notable change in energy reflects a strong influx of submissions and a heightened competition for available slots.

Among the rumored contenders, Jim Jarmusch’s anticipated ‘Father Mother Sister Brother’ stands out. Also catching attention is Richard Linklater‘s French-language film, ‘Nouvelle Vague,’ a piece exploring the creation of Jean-Luc Godard’s ‘Breathless’ and the emergence of the French New Wave. Linklater recently showcased his film ‘Blue Moon’ at the Berlin Film Festival.

Notable filmmakers expected to showcase their works at Cannes include Spike Lee with his A24 film ‘Highest 2 Lowest’ and expected contributions from a slew of American directors such as Ari Aster, Gregg Araki, and Kelly Reichardt.

Furthermore, Tom Cruise‘s ‘Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning’ is speculated to premiere out of competition on May 21, coinciding with its theatrical release, though Paramount has yet to confirm.

International filmmakers are also anticipated to present powerful narratives. The Dardenne brothers, known for their previous accolades, are set to unveil ‘The Young Mother’s Home.’ Joachim Trier, whose ‘The Worst Person in the World‘ received significant acclaim, will debut ‘Sentimental Value,’ featuring noteworthy performances by Renate Reinsve and Stellan Skarsgård.

However, not all submissions will make the cut. Films such as Yorgos Lanthimos‘s ‘Bugonia‘ and Paul Thomas Anderson‘s untitled project have been confirmed as absent from the lineup, as have various others.

With numerous confirmed films still to come, the Cannes Film Festival is gearing up to be a landmark event in 2025, promising diverse storytelling that reflects the evolving landscape of global cinema.