Cannes Film Festival from 13th May
Get ready for a dazzling cinematic celebration as the 78th Cannes Film Festival returns to the French Riviera from May 13–24, 2025. With big-name directors, star-studded debuts, and Tom Cruise back on the Croisette, this year’s line-up promises glitz, glamour, and plenty of drama—both on and off screen.
Ah, the Cannes Film Festival. That yearly knees-up on the French Riviera where auteurs mingle with A-listers, the red carpet gets more footfall than Oxford Street at Christmas, and everyone pretends to understand experimental cinema while sipping Champagne the price of a small hatchback. This year’s instalment—the 78th edition, no less—promises to be a real corker.
From 13 to 24 May, the seaside city of Cannes will once again roll out the red carpet, pop the bubbly, and welcome a who’s who of cinematic royalty. As reported by Variety (who, let’s face it, probably have permanent deckchairs on the Croisette), the 2025 line-up is shaping up to be more glamorous than a Bond girl in sequins.
First up, the big guns are out. Spike Lee is back in the director’s chair with Highest 2 Lowest—a title that already sounds like a weather forecast for the British Isles. He’ll be joined by indie darlings and fan favourites like Richard Linklater with Nouvelle Vague, Kelly Reichardt’s The Mastermind, Ari Aster’s intriguingly titled Eddington, and Wes Anderson’s ever-symmetrical The Phoenician Scheme. One imagines there’ll be plenty of pastels, furrowed brows and dialogue so dry you could toast it.
Adding a bit of fresh zest to this already well-shaken cocktail are several actors-turned-directors. Scarlett Johansson is giving it a whirl with Eleanor the Great, while Harris Dickinson makes his directorial debut with Urchin—a title which, let’s be honest, could either be a gritty coming-of-age tale or a BBC nature documentary.
Now, if you thought last year’s festival was impressive—with Anora taking home the Palme d’Or before sauntering off to win Best Picture at the Oscars—you ain’t seen nothing yet. Emilia Perez, The Substance, and Flow all became awards darlings too. It’s fair to say Cannes has a bit of a sixth sense when it comes to sniffing out the good stuff—like a truffle pig in tuxedo.
This year, however, there’s a whiff of something extra in the air—a post-strike buzz. It’s the first proper Cannes since the Hollywood strikes took the wind out of Tinseltown’s sails, and the Americans are back in full force. Prepare yourselves for high-flying egos, jaw-dropping gowns, and conversations that start with “I’m working on a project” and end with someone handing you a screenplay over their third espresso.
Oh, and speaking of high-flying, guess who’s parachuting back onto the Croisette? None other than Tom Cruise himself, returning with Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning. After the Top Gun: Maverick premiere practically broke the sound barrier in 2022, expect another spectacle complete with stunts, smiles, and Scientology-tinged charm.
Behind the scenes, Thierry Frémaux—artistic director, general delegate, and general big cheese—has revealed that the festival received a record-breaking 2,909 submissions. That’s more entries than a village fête raffle. And with a few last-minute additions always sneaking into the line-up, it’s anyone’s guess what cinematic gem (or turkey) might still waltz onto the schedule.
The festival jury will be helmed by the ever-glorious Juliette Binoche, who could probably read the instructions on a tin of beans and still move audiences to tears. Meanwhile, the legendary Robert De Niro will be handed the honorary Palme d’Or, probably with a few wisecracks and an obligatory “Are you talkin’ to me?”
So, dust off your designer specs, brush up on your French (or at least your mime skills), and prepare for a fortnight of flashbulbs, film reels, and fabulous frocks. Whether it ends in standing ovations or polite French shrugs, one thing’s for sure—Cannes 2025 will be le spectacle of the year.
And if all else fails, there’s always the rosé. Santé!
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