“Bitter Christmas”, the most recent work of the Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodovaralready released in its country, is among the 21 films that will compete in the 79th Cannes Film Festivala list that this year does not include any Latin American films.
In this edition there is no presence of the region in the official competition, unlike last year, when the Brazilian Kleber Mendonça Filho He participated with “The Secret Agent”, a film that later obtained several nominations for the Oscar.
According to the list presented this Thursday in Paris, the official selection brings together five films directed by women, including “Gentle Monster”, by the Austrian Marie Kreutzer.
Thierry Fremauxdelegate director of the festival, pointed out that the list could still be expanded in the coming days, leaving a margin of suspense.
The festival will start on May 12 with the French film “La Vénus électrique”, by Pierre Salvadori, set in the 1920s and will lower its curtain on the 23rd of that same month. The jury will be chaired by the renowned South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook.
In addition, the Croisette will pay tribute to Barbra Streisand and Peter Jacksonwho will receive an honorary Palme d’Or.
These are the films that will compete for the Palme d’Or
– “Bitter Christmas”, by the Spanish Pedro Almodóvar
The filmmaker from La Mancha, a regular at the contest, aspires for the seventh time for the top award with this film about a film director who is inspired by the lives of those close to her to create her stories. Barbara Lennie and Leonardo Sbaraglia They appear in the cast.
– “Histoires parallèles”, by the Iranian Asghar Farhadi
The Iranian filmmaker, a double Oscar winner, brings together a first-class French cast, with names like Isabelle Huppert, Vincent Cassel, Pierre Niney and Catherine Deneuve.
– “Minotaur”, by Russian Andrey Zvyagintsev
The author of “Leviathan” and “Loveless” is now presenting a film shot outside his country about the Russian bourgeoisie facing conscription for war, according to Frémaux.
– “Sheep in the Box”, by Japanese Hirokazu Kore-eda
This regular at the show, who already won the Palme d’Or in 2018 with “A Family Affair”, will present the story of a couple who adopts a humanoid as if he were a child.
– “All of a Sudden”, by Japanese Ryusuke Hamaguchi
Hamaguchi won the best screenplay award at Cannes for “Drive My Car”, before winning the Oscar for Best International Film in 2022. This time the story of a director of a nursing home is filmed in France.
– “Gentle Monster”, by Austrian Marie Kreutzer
Kreutzer is considered one of the strongest voices in current European cinema. The film stars Lea Seydoux and Catherine Deneuve.
– “The black ball”, by the Spanish Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo
It is one of the most anticipated projects from this filmmaking duo known as the Javis. The film is inspired by the unfinished work of Federico García Lorcaalso titled “The Black Ball.” The film brings together a very powerful cast, which includes Penelope Cruz and Glenn Close.
– “The loved one”, by the Spanish Rodrigo Sorogoyen
After presenting “As bestas” in the Première section in 2022, it enters competition with “The loved one”, with Javier Bardem who plays a filmmaker who wants to give a role to his actress daughter (Victoria Luengo).
– “The Man I Love”, by the American Ira Sachs
The cast brings together Rami Malek, Tom Sturridge, Luther Ford, Rebecca Hall and Ebon Moss Bachrachwhich makes it one of the North American director’s most striking projects.
– “La vie d’une femme”, by the French Charline Bourgeois-Taquet
The film tells the story of Gabrielle, a Parisian surgeon in her 50s who is going through a personal crisis while her emotional and professional life is destabilized.
– “Coward”, by Belgian Lukas Dhont
Dhont returns to Cannes with his third feature film after “Girl” (2018) and “Close” (2022).
– “Fatherland”, by the Polish Paweł Pawlikowski
Pawlikowski (“Ida”) will present a film about the writer’s post-war life Thomas Mann and has the German Sandra Huller in the cast.
– “Moulin”, by Hungarian László Nemes
Nemes won the Grand Jury Prize at Cannes and the Oscar for “Son of Saul.”
– “Histoires de la nuit”, by the French Léa Mysius
It is an adaptation of the novel by Laurent Mauvignierwhere the French director explores family ties.
– “Fjord”, by Romanian Cristian Mungiu
Mungiu won the Palme d’Or in 2007 for “4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days.” This time the story is set in Norway and has Renate Reinsve in the cast.
-“Notre salut”, by the Belgian Emmanuel Marre
A feature film about World War II.
– “Nagi Notes”, by Japanese Koji Fukada
In 2016, Fukada won the Jury Prize in Un Certain Regard with “Harmonium”, the second most important section of the Cannes Film Festival.
– “Hope”, by South Korean Na Hong-Jin
The film brings together Korean stars Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung and Jung Ho-yeon (from “The Squid Game”).
– “Garance”, by the French Jeanne Herry
It tells the story of a young actress who aspires to become a star. Herry is the daughter of the actress Miou Miou and the singer Julien Clerc.
– “L’inconnue”, by Frenchman Arthur Harari
Harari is a figure of auteur cinema. He was awarded at the Oscars in 2024 along with Justine Triet for the script of “Anatomy of a Fall.”
– “The Dreamed Adventure”, by the German Valeska Grisebach
After presenting his third film in Un Certain Regard, Grisebach enters the competition with a story about a woman who accepts a deal to help an old acquaintance.
