Each May, cinephiles across the world turn their gaze to the French Riviera — not just for the fashion or the yachts (though, yes, those too), but for the cinematic magic that descends on Cannes. Now in its 78th year, the Cannes Film Festival remains the ultimate meeting point for bold auteurs, breakout stars, and the kind of films that spark standing ovations and walkouts in the same breath.
This year’s edition is already shaping up to be a standout. The Palme d’Or race is packed with 23 contenders, and the out-of-competition screenings are stacked with premieres that have us itching to refresh our Letterboxd queues. Whether you're here for the slow-burn dramas, the genre-benders, or just the buzzy name drops, there's something in the mix for every kind of film fan.
No, we're not soaking up the sun on the Croisette either — but that doesn't mean we're missing out. Here, every highlight from the 2025 Cannes Film Festival schedule. Consider this your cheat sheet to everything you’ll want to watch (and talk about) this year.
1. The Phoenician Scheme by Wes Anderson
Wes Anderson returns to Cannes with The Phoenician Scheme, a new film that's set to be as meticulously crafted as one would expect from the king of symmetry and deadpan. Little is known about the actual plot, other than the film tells “the story of a family and a family business." What we do know, however, is it has a predictably star-studded cast, in Benicio del Toro, Mia Threapleton, Michael Cera, Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Riz Ahmed, Mathieu Amalric, Jeffrey Wright, Scarlett Johansson, Richard Ayoade, Rupert Friend, Hope Davis, and Benedict Cumberbatch. Expect Anderson to weavee his signature pastel palette and dollhouse-like set design into something that feels both familiar and thrillingly new.
2. Urchin by Harris Dickinson
Harris Dickinson is proving he can do more than just act, with his directorial debut, Urchin. All we really know so far is that the film stars Frank Dillane as a drifter, and will premiere as part of the festivals Un Certain Regard category.
3. Eleanor The Great by Scarlett Johansson
Grab the tissues, because we predict this one will tug on our heart strings. Directed by Scarlett Johansson and written by Troy Kamen, the film follows 90-year-old Eleanor who, after seventy years, moves to New York in search of a fresh start. At first, making new friends proves difficult, until she happens to befriend a 19-year-old student.
4. Vie Privée by Rebecca Zlotowski
Jodie Foster will return to Cannes for her role in Rebecca Zlotowski's crime comedy, Vie Privée. She's set to play renowned psychiatrist Lilian Steiner who, after learning of the death of one of her patients, becomes deeply troubled. Convinced that it was murder, she decides to investigate...
5. The Mastermind, Kelly Reichardt
Expect to see a new side of Josh O'Connor as James Mooney, an art theft who orchestrates an elaborate heist against the backdrop of the Vietnam War. He's also joined by Alana Haim in her acting debut, plus Gaby Hoffman and John Magaro.
6. The History Of Sound, Oliver Hermanus
And proving he really is one of the most multi-talented actors around, Josh O'Connor also takes the lead in this queer romance, opposite none other than Paul Mescal. The story follows two young men, Lionel (Mescal) and David (O’Connor), in the shadows of WWI who are determined to record the lives, voices and music of Americans. As they begin to log the events, the two fall in love.
7. Eddington, Ari Aster
Vying for the Palme d'Or is Eddington, which comes courtesy of Midsommar director Ari Aster. There's some serious star power behind this western black comedy, starring Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone, and Pedro Pascal. Most details are under wraps, but the film's official synopsis is as follows: In May of 2020, a standoff between a small-town sheriff and mayor sparks a powder keg as neighbour is pitted against neighbour in Eddington, New Mexico.
