The 74th Festival de Cannes will soon begin with a star-studded lineup—starting on July 6, 2021, and closing on July 17, with the awards list announced by President of the Jury, Spike Lee. As an accredited press member, I’ll update you on the special events, film talent, and films. At this writing, I plan to attend in person to provide an up-close and personal view. As a former traveler to the South of France, I’ll also highlight my favorite sight-seeing adventures during my nine-day stay in Cannes.
Jodie Foster is the special guest of the Opening Ceremony and is the Honorary Palme d’Or’s recipient and will present opening remarks.
July 6, 2021, the opening film “Annette” will premiere, starring Marion Cotillard and Adam Driver, a musical film directed by Leos Carax, with a screenplay by Ron Mael and Russel Mael both members of the pop/rock duo band Sparks. The original story, music, and score are a collaboration with the writers and the band.
The intriguing tale is of a confrontational stand-up comedian (Adam Driver) and his wife, a world-famous soprano (Marion Cotillard). Upon the birth of their daughter Annette, who’s born with a special gift, their life is forever changed.
Notable directors and their films include Wes Anderson, “The French Dispatch,” Sean Baker “Red Rocket,” Asghar Farhadi “A Hero,” Sean Penn “Flag Day” and Paul Verhoeven, “Benedetta” along with past Palme d’Or winners Jacques Audiard “Les Olympiades” and Apichatpong Weerasethakul “Memoria.”
Additional seasoned filmmakers slated include; Oliver Stone’s new documentary “JFK: Through the Looking Glass,” Tom McCarthy will debut his Matt Damon thriller “Stillwater” out of competition, while Todd Haynes is set to screen; his new documentary “The Velvet Underground.”
Most notable are the increasing women representation during the festival; Charlotte Gainsbourg debuts a personal documentary of her mother, Jane Birkin, “Jane by Charlotte,” Andrea Arnold’s “Cow” “Women Do Cry” is directed by two, Mina Mileva and Vesela Kazakova), “The Year of the Everlasting Storm” features sections directed by Laura Poitras and Dominga Sotomayor. Eva Husson shows with her “Mothering Sunday.”
CANNES 2021 OFFICIAL SELECTION
COMPETITION
Annette, dir: Leos Carax (opening night film)
Flag Day, dir: Sean Penn
Tout S’est Bien Passé, dir: François Ozon
A Hero, dir: Asghar Farhadi
Tre Piani, dir: Nanni Moretti
Titane, dir: Julia Ducournau
The French Dispatch, dir: Wes Anderson
Red Rocket, dir: Sean Baker
Petrov’s Flu, dir: Kirill Serebrennikov
France, dir: Bruno Dumont
Nitram, dir: Justin Kurzel
Memoria, dir: Apichatpong Weerasethakul
Les Olympiades, dir: Jacques Audiard
Benedetta, dir: Paul Verhoeven
La Fracture, dir: Catherine Corsini
The Restless, dir: Joachim Lafosse
Lingui, dir: Mahamat-Saleh Haroun
The Worst Person In The World, dir: Joachim Trier
Bergman Island, dir: Mia Hansen-Love
Drive My Car, dir: Ryusuke Hamaguchi
Ahed’s Knee, dir: Nadav Lapid
Casablanca Beats, dir: Nabil Ayouch
Compartment No. 6, dir: Juho Kuosmanen
The Story Of My Wife, dir: Ildiko Enyedi
OUT OF COMPETITION
De Son Vivant, dir: Emmanuelle Bercot
Stillwater, dir: Tom McCarthy
The Velvet Underground, dir: Todd Haynes
Bac Nord, dir: Cédric Jiminez
Aline, dir: Valérie Lemercier
Emergency Declaration, dir: Han Jae-Rim
MIDNIGHT SCREENINGS
Bloody Oranges, dir: Jean-Christophe Meurisse
CANNES PREMIERES
Evolution, dir: Kornel Mundruczo
Cow, dir: Andrea Arnold
Mothering Sunday, dir: Eva Husson
Love Songs For Tough Guys, dir: Samuel Benchetrit
In Front Of Your Face, dir: Hong Sang-soo
Hold Me Tight, dir: Mathieu Amalric
Deception, dir: Arnaud Desplechin
Val, dirs: Ting Poo, Leo Scott
JFK Revisited: Through The Looking Glass, dir: Oliver Stone
*Jane By Charlotte, dir: Charlotte Gainsbourg
SPECIAL SCREENINGS
*H6, dir: Yi Yi
Black Notebooks, dir: Shlomi Elkabetz
Mariner Of The Mountains, dir: Karim Ainouz
Babi Yar. Context, dir: Sergei Loznitsa
The Year Of The Everlasting Storm; dirs: Jafar Panahi, Anthony Chen, Malik Vitthal, Laura Poitras, Dominga Sotomayor, David Lowery, Apichatpong Weerasethakul
UN CERTAIN REGARD
The Innocents, dir: Eskil Vogt
After Yang, dir: Kogonada
Delo, dir: Alexey German Jr
Bonne Mere, dir: Hafsia Herzi
Noche De Fuego, dir: Tatiana Huezo
*Lamb, dir: Vladimar Johansson
*Un Monde, dir: Laura Wandel
*Freda, dir: Gessica Généus
*Moneyboys, dir: CB Yi
Blue Bayou, dir: Justin Chon
Commitment Hasan, dir: Hasan Semih Kaplanoglu
Rehana Maryam Noor, dir: Abdullah Mohammad Saad
Let There Be Morning, dir: Eran Kolirin
Unclenching The Fists, dir: Kira Kovalenko
*La Civil, dir: Ana Mihai
Women Do Cry, dirs: Mina Mileva, Vesela Kazakova
*First film, eligible for the Camera d’Or award.
**Bella Hadid at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival (photo: Getty Images) featured photo.
Stay tuned for updates on Hollywood 360 Radio Network, and Sarah’s Backstage Pass.
Sarah Knight Adamson© June 28, 2021