Film festivals happen all across the world, in small towns at local theatres, and in big cities with unfurled red carpets. But the one film festival to rule them all (at least in terms of fanfare) is one in its 77th year in the French Cote d'Azur – the Festival de Cannes (i.e. the Cannes Film Festival).
This year's programming has been announced for the festival's week-long schedule, and boy is it jam-packed with plenty of blockbusters and indie flicks we'd like to let our eyes feast upon. While most of us will not be heading to Cannes this year, and even those lucky enough to be in town, will not have time to watch all of the films on display – so we thought we'd take the guesswork out of the equation for you and give you the RUSSH-ified highlight reel, so you can mark your calendars and 'Add' to your Letterboxd Watch Lists.
1. Megalopolis by Francis Ford Coppola
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Yes, the godfather of film, who directed the ACTUAL Godfather films, is back – 45 years after winning a Palme d'Or for Apocalypse Now. Coppola has written, produced and directed this epic sci-fi drama about an architect trying to rebuild New York City as a utopia following a devastating disaster.
2. Kinds of Kindness by Yórgos Lánthimos
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The duo behind the Oscar-winning Poor Things is already back with another film – adding Euphoria and Hunger Games star Hunter Schafer to the mix, among other notable names like Jesse Plemons, Willem Dafoe and Margaret Qualley. All we know so far about the plot is that it will follow three stories, with the core cast transforming into different characters for each.
3. The Shrouds by David Cronenberg
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Cronenberg will be debuting his latest project, The Shrouds, at Cannes this year, which follows the story of a widower and businessman named Karsh who builds a new device that can connect people with the dead inside a burial shroud. The film is said to be Cronenberg's most autobiographical yet.
Cronenberg also has some INTERESTING history with both Cannes and Francis Ford Coppola, when his film Crash almost won the Palme D'or in 1996 but was blocked by Coppola's vote (who served as president of the Cannes jury that year), and barred from winning more than a jury prize.
4. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga by George Miller
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After much speculation, it's been confirmed that the next instalment in the Mad Max saga will be making its world premiere at this year's Cannes (screening out of competition). With Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth at the helm of this film, we're likely to see plenty more desert steam-punk action set across the Wastelands of an Australian dystopia.
5. Emilia Perez by Jacques Audiard
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One of three films from the newly minted film arm of Saint Laurent Productions (one of three films from the House that made the Cannes cut this year), this Spanish-language comedy crime film follows a cartel leader on the run from the law. The film stars Karla Sofía Gascón, Zoe Saldana and Selena Gomez.
6. Bird by Andrea Arnold
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The British auteur Andrea Arnold (who directed the second seas of Big Little Lies) has her latest film, Bird, on the bill this year. Starring Saltburn star and actor-of-the-moment Barry Keoghan (all tatted up I might add), the film has few plot details leaked as of yet. But if Arnold's past work is anything to go off of – American Honey, Fish Tank, Wasp – we're certain it will be worth a watch.
7. The Surfer by Lorcan Finnegan
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Lorcan Finnegan's psychological thriller shot in WA has made the cut this year. Starring Nicholas Cage, it was chosen as one of four films for the Midnight Screenings section. We'd highly suggest checking this onejust for the Australian cast talent like Julian McMahon, Nicholas Cassim, Miranda Tapsell, Alexander Bertrand, Justin Rosniak, Rahel Romahn, Finn Little, and Charlotte Maggi.
