The Race Is On: 19 Films Compete for the Palme d’Or at Cannes 2025

Recently, a press conference unveiled the official lineup for the 78th Cannes Film Festival. The announcement was made in the presence of Festival President Iris Knobloch and General Delegate Thierry Frémaux.

Main Competition

This year, the main competition includes 19 films, featuring an impressive mix of established auteurs and bold new voices:

• “The Phoenician Scheme” by Wes Anderson
• “Eddington” by Ari Aster
• “The Mastermind” by Kelly Reichardt
• “New Wave” by Richard Linklater
• “Alpha” by Julia Ducournau
• “Jeunes Mères” by the Dardenne brothers
• “Sentimental Value” by Joachim Trier
• “A Simple Accident” by Jafar Panahi
• “My Father’s Shadow” by Akinola Davies Jr. — the first-ever Nigerian film in Cannes’ official selection

British actor Josh O’Connor takes centre stage this year with lead roles in two competing films, “The Mastermind” as noted above and Oliver Hermanus’ “The History of Sound”.

Un Certain Regard

The Un Certain Regard section showcases promising directorial debuts:

• “Eleanor the Great” directed by Scarlett Johansson
• “Urchin” directed by Harris Dickinson

Out of Competition

The festival’s Out of Competition lineup promises star power and spectacle:
• “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” starringTom Cruise
• “Highest 2 Lowest” by Spike Lee
• “Stories of Surrender”, a solo show by Bono

Jury and Guests of Honour

Juliette Binoche will serve as Jury President this year, marking the second consecutive year the jury is led by a woman.

Legendary actor Robert De Niro will receive an honorary Palme d’Or for his lifetime contribution to cinema.

The festival will open on May 13 with the world premiere of “Leave One Day”, the debut film by French actress-turned-director Amélie Bonnen.

The 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival will run from May 13 to May 24, 2025, promising a rich celebration of cinema filled with prestigious premieres, daring debuts, and international milestones.

The full list of films in the official selection is available on the festival’s official website.