The Cannes Film Festival is an international film festival held in Cannes, France. It showcases new films in several different genres, including dramas, documentaries and more. The filmmakers featured in Cannes are from around the world, and compete to be accepted into this prestigious festival. It was founded in 1946, and its admittance is by invitation only. It was originally founded with the name International Film Festival, but was later changed to Cannes Festival in 2003. It is considered to be one of three premier festivals that take place in Europe, which also include the Berlin International Film Festival and the Venice Film Festival, in Italy and Germany, respectively. Each year, Cannes premieres new films and the creatives behind them, and this year is no exception. The 74th edition for this year’s line up is full of great films by amazing filmmakers. If you haven’t already, now is a good time to read up on the amazing films that will be shown worldwide at this year’s festival. Although there will be a face mask mandate in place for the festival due to Covid-19, there are in person activities for the festival for the first time in two years. If you are ready to learn more about the amazing pieces of work featured this year, check out 6 movies you should definitely watch at Cannes Film Festival.
After Yang
Kongonada is a video essayist and artist, and started with a wonderful feature film called “Columbus” four years ago, which was a character study piece. This time the artist makes another appearance with “After Yang,” which stars Colin Farrell, as a science fiction drama. It also co-stars Jodie Turner Smith, Halye Lu Richardson and Justin H. Min.
The Velvet Underground
This nonfiction piece is a tribute to rock bands of the 60s and is directed by Todd Haynes. He is most well known for his LGBTQ+ drama period pieces and biographical dramatizations on musicians. The Hollywood reporter said, “Haynes puts his distinctive stamp on the material while crafting a work that could almost have come from the same artistic explosion it celebrates,”
Annette
French filmmaker Leos Carax, makes his debut with an English language film with “Annette,” which is a rock opera featuring Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard. It is a very experimental and strangely interesting film that features original songs by Sparks. Driver plays a stand up comedian and Cotillard plays his wife.
Val
Val Kilmer comes to the screen with a very interesting film that chronicles his childhood career and personal endeavors. He shot home video footage for several years to be able to piece together this beautiful documentary of his life. It is co-directed by Leo Scott and Ting Poo. Kilmer shows the audience an in depth and reflective look at his most iconic films. He also chronicles his harrowing journey as a throat cancer survivor, now living with a breathing tube.
The French Dispatch
This film is directed by Wes Anderson and is a drama comedy hybrid highlighting a fictional Kansas newspaper’s French bureau. NBC News says it is a “love letter to journalism and a hat tip to some of the legendary reporters at The New Yorker.” The cast includes Timothee Chalamet, Tilda Swinton, Bill Murray, and Frances McDormand. This is definitely one film you don’t want to miss.
Flag Day
Flag Day is directed by Sean Penn, who also co-stars in the film. It is a drama following the story of a women looking to rekindle her relationship with her estranged father, who is a con artist. It is based on a memoir by Jennifer Vogel, who is a reporter. It was adapted by Jez Butterworth, an award-winning playwright behind The Ferryman.