Festival de Cannes 2025

There’s something quite unusual in this year's edition: the French festival will see the debut behind the camera of three different actors who’re giving the directing gig a chance: Harris Dickinson with Urchin; Scarlett Johansson with Eleanor the Great; and Kristen Stewart with The Chronology of Water — all of which are presented in the Un Certain Regard Category. But there are other big names involved (Richard Linklater, Sebastián Lelio, Joachim Trier, etc.) because, at the end of the day, Cannes is one of the first major film festivals of the year. If you succeed there, the race to win awards starts, as well as your commercial success in cinemas. 

As usual, there’s a lot to unpack, so we’ve chosen ten films you should be looking into.

Ari Aster’s new movie throws us back into the chaos of the pandemic, in the tumultuous town of Eddington. Where the standoff between an ambitious mayor (Pedro Pascal) and the town’s sheriff (Joaquin Phoenix) escalate tensions among the neighbours. The film also stars Emma Stone, Austin Butler, Luke Grimes, Deirdre O'Connell, and Michael Ward, and seems to be one of the strongest premieres of the festival. The king of horror is back!

As in much of his recent filmography, Wes Anderson plays it safe, once again, by delivering what he does best — and we love it. An irreverent comedy accompanied by stunning and meticulously crafted visuals set in the Middle East, The Phoenician Scheme aims to draw out all the comedic potential of a classic political thriller, with clear echoes of North by Northwest. But Anderson doesn’t do it alone, he’s backed by an equally impressive cast that includes Benicio del Toro, Mia Threapleton, Michael Cera, Scarlett Johansson, and Tom Hanks.

Ducournau is not a stranger to Cannes. Her last film, Titane (2021), was even awarded with the prestigious Palme d’Or. If you have watched it, you know she doesn’t hold back, and in Alpha, she is no different. Set in the 80s, the story follows the life of a young girl in the middle of the AIDS epidemic after the passing of one of her parents. Intense, kind of gross, but also weirdly emotional, the movie delves into body horror to tell a very human story about resilience.

Scottish director Lynne Ramsay (We Need to Talk About Kevin, You Were Never Really Here) is back. With Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson as main characters, this psychological horror movie explores the psyche of a woman battling her inner demons (motherhood, womanhood, love, desire, family). Lawrence played a similar role in Darren Aronofsky’s Mother!, which she admited traumatised her. But she seems to be back on her feet and ready to spiral down again.

Bold, loud, and saying exactly what needs to be said, Highest 2 Lowest is a classic Spike Lee movie. This reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa’s High and Low (1963) faces the division of classes in New York City, capturing the tension of the social inequalities of one of the greatest cities in the world. Great dialogue, strong visuals, a cast including Denzel Washington and A$AP Rocky, and a message that, no matter where you live, hits hard.

There’s been a lot of hype surrounding this film. But can you blame the audience for being excited to see Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor living a gay romance in the 1920s, right after World War I? The actors play Lionel and David respectively, two folk musicians who meet at the Boston Music Conservatory and soon grow very fond of each other. But time goes by and each takes a different path.

The film is Ethan Coen doing what he does best: a playful detour into noir tinged comedy, with awkward criminals, dry humour, and twists that sneak up on you. The film centres on the investigation of the death of a woman linked to a shady cult and its lustful leader. With an impressive cast featuring by Margaret Qualley, Aubrey Plaza, Chris Evans, and Charlie Day, the movie blends vintage Coen Brothers vibes with a stripped-down solo vision. It’s quirky, clever, and unmistakably Coen.

You might know Harris Dickinson as an actor (think Babygirl or The Triangle of Sadness), but his debut behind the cameras, Urchin, proves he has serious chops as a director too. This portrait of the urban youth navigating identity, survival, and fractured family bonds feels very grounded and personal. The characters stick with you, and there’s a quiet intensity that builds through every scene.

Carla Simón is one of Spain’s most interesting exports. Her debut film, Estiu 1993 (2017) was an incredible success that put her on everyone’s radar — she won several awards and quickly became to represent a new generation telling stories on the big screen. With Aclarràs (2022), she confirmed that she’s a genius. And now, she’s presenting her third feature film in Cannes — in the Official Competition section, nonetheless! Romería follows Marina, an eighteen-year-old orphan has to travel to Spain’s Atlatic coast to meet her paternal grandparents in order to get their signature for a scholarship. Subtle, emotional, beautiful, and contradictory, this film is expected to move audiences to tears.

The Nasser brothers shine a light on Palestinian stories and artistry while facing genocide. In their new movie, set in Gaza inn 2007, a young student and a restaurant owner forge a friendship while also starting a joint drug dealing business. But when a corrupt cop uncovers their dirty laundry, things don’t turn as expected.