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Cannes 2025: everything we know about the festival so far
The eagerly awaited 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival will take place from May 13 to 24, 2025, with Juliette Binoche serving as Jury President. While the official selection—expected to be unveiled in April—remains under wraps, speculation is already rife. In the meantime, here’s a look at the early buzz and persistent rumors surrounding the prestigious event, from the stars expected to attend to the feature films likely to make waves.
Last year’s festival was marked by the triumph of Jacques Audiard’s musical Emilia Pérez and Sean Baker’s Anora, which won the Palme d’Or. A festival full of emotion, with a jury presided over by filmmaker Greta Gerwig.
Juliette Binoche named President of the Cannes jury
Few details have been released so far about the 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival, which runs from May 13 to 24, 2025. But one key announcement has been made: the Jury President will be the renowned actress Juliette Binoche, a longtime fixture on the Croisette (she won Best Actress in 2010 for Certified Copy by Abbas Kiarostami) and a familiar face in the pages of Numéro—a promising sign of a high-caliber selection. “For only the second time in the Festival’s history, two female artists will consecutively take up this prestigious mantle,” noted the festival’s organizing committee in a press release.
In the same release, Binoche herself shared: “I look forward to sharing these life-affirming moments with the Jury members and the public. In 1985, I climbed the steps for the first time, filled with the enthusiasm and uncertainty of a young actress; I never imagined returning 40 years later in the honorary role of Jury President. I am mindful of the privilege, the responsibility, and the absolute necessity of humility.”
Laurent Lafitte to host the opening and closing ceremonies
As of March 26, 2025, it has also been confirmed that actor Laurent Lafitte will take over from Camille Cottin and Virginie Efira as master of ceremonies for the festival’s opening and closing nights—a role he previously held in 2016.
Also official: director Christophe Honoré will preside over the Queer Palm jury, and Todd Haynes will receive the Carrosse d’Or award, presented at the opening ceremony of the Directors’ Fortnight on May 14.
An honorary Palme d’Or for Robert De Niro
As for accolades, legendary actor Robert De Niro will be awarded an honorary Palme d’Or for his lifetime achievements on May 13, 2025. “I feel a deep connection to the Cannes Film Festival,” he said in a statement announcing the honor. “Especially today, when so many things divide us around the world, Cannes brings us together—storytellers, filmmakers, fans, and friends. It feels like coming home.”
The full list of films in competition is still unknown, but film lovers and media outlets like Deadline and Variety have already started making predictions. On X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit’s film forums, certain filmmakers and titles keep surfacing.
Which Films might be selected for Cannes 2025?
Among the directors rumored to be in contention this year are American filmmaker Gregg Araki (The Doom Generation, Mysterious Skin, Nowhere), with the erotic thriller I Want Your Sex, centered on an artist who hires a young man as a sexual muse. Wes Anderson may present The Phoenician Scheme, starring Benicio del Toro and Scarlett Johansson, while Spike Lee could bring Highest 2 Lowest.
Other directors possibly in the mix? Terrence Malick (The Way of the Wind), Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another), Jim Jarmusch (Mother Brother Sister Mother, with Adam Driver and Cate Blanchett), and Ari Aster (Eddington) with Joaquin Phoenix and Emma Stone.
Also rumored are Richard Linklater (Nouvelle Vague, about the making of Godard’s Breathless), Apichatpong Weerasethakul (The Fountains of Paradise), Fatih Akin (Amrum), Ildikó Enyedi (Silent Friend), Joachim Trier, Bi Gan, Pietro Marcello (Duse), the Dardenne brothers, Arnaud Desplechin (Une affaire), and Paul Schrader (Non Compos Mentis).
Karim Aïnouz may present Rosebush Pruning with Elle Fanning, Riley Keough, Callum Turner, and Pamela Anderson, while Luca Guadagnino might unveil After the Hunt. There’s also hope for The History of Sound, a gay romance by Oliver Hermanus starring Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor.
However, according to Variety, some big names won’t be competing this year, including Yorgos Lanthimos (Bugonia, with Emma Stone and Margaret Qualley), Romain Gavras (Sacrifice), Nicolas Winding Refn (The Avenging Silence), Paul Thomas Anderson (again), Cédric Jimenez (Chien 51), and Celine Song (Materialists).
Will Julia Ducournau and Rebecca Zlotowski be in competition?
Surprise entries could include Kristen Stewart with her directorial debut The Chronology of Water, and Scarlett Johansson’s first directing project, Eleanor The Great. Female directors look set to have strong representation. Julia Ducournau (Alpha), Rebecca Zlotowski (Vie privée), Kelly Reichardt (The Mastermind), Alice Winocour (Couture), and Lynne Ramsay (Die, my Love) are all contenders for the official selection.
Also expected in Cannes this year: a documentary on Brigitte Bardot and Jan Kounen’s feature The Shrinking Man, starring Jean Dujardin. Rumors also suggest Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, with Tom Cruise, will have its world premiere at Cannes 2025.
Virginie Efira, Robert Pattinson… which stars will be on the Croisette in 2025?
If the predicted films are selected, the Croisette will once again glitter with stars.
Actress Olivia Wilde and singer Charli XCX, stars of I Want Your Sex, could be in France this May. Virginie Efira and Jodie Foster may promote Vie privée, while Golshifteh Farahani and Tahar Rahim could represent Alpha
Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson might walk the red carpet for Die, my Love. The History of Sound could bring Josh O’Connor and Paul Mescal to Cannes. We also hope to see Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Evans, and Salma Hayek for Sacrifice, although Variety suggests that may not happen.
Will Charli XCX and Léa Seydoux be on the red carpet?
Tilda Swinton (The Fountains of Paradise), Angelina Jolie (Couture), Josh O’Connor (The Mastermind), Léa Seydoux and Tony Leung (Silent Friend), Cate Blanchett and Adam Driver (Mother Brother Sister Mother), and Benicio Del Toro (The Phoenician Scheme) may also be among the glittering names making Cannes a media spectacle once again.
Ami, partner of ” La Semaine de la Critique”
Among the other updates for Cannes 2025: fashion label Ami, long connected to the film world, becomes the main partner of La Semaine de la Critique, and will sponsor the Ami Paris Grand Prize.
Since 1962, La Semaine de la Critique has championed debut and sophomore films by emerging filmmakers. This year, the event runs from May 14 to 22 at the Espace Miramar in Cannes.
Lastly, the Directors’ Fortnight has just revealed its 2025 poster, designed by independent filmmaker Harmony Korine—hinting at a bold and provocative selection?
The 78th Cannes Film Festival will be held from May 13 to 24, 2025.
