The 78th Cannes Film Festival will take place from May 13 to 24, 2025 in Cannes, France. As one of the most prestigious film events in the world, it showcases new films from established and emerging directors, awards excellence in cinema, and serves as a major industry hub. Expect Breathtaking premieres, fierce competition, and groundbreaking debuts from all over the world.
Whether you're an industry insider, a film fanatic, or just someone who loves a good cultural moment, here's what to look out for this year.
Official Selection & Competition
The Official Selection is the soul of Cannes, it's where the cinema world holds its breath. Films compete for top awards, divided into distinct categories:
In Competition
This are the films vying for the Palme d'Or, the festival highest honor, along with other key awards like Best Director, Best Screenplay, and more. Here are this year's contenders.
The Phoenician Scheme
By Wes Anderson - Comedy - Drama, Adventure
Eddington
By Ari Aster - Psychological Drama, Mystery
Résurrection
By BI Gan - Drama, Fantasy
Jeunes Mère
By Jean-Pierre et Luc Dardenne - Social Drama
Alpha
By Julia Ducournau - Horror, Drama
Renoir
By Hayakawa Chie - Biographical Drama
The History of Sound
By Oliver Hermanus - Romance, Historical Drama
La Petite Dernière
By Hafsia Herzi - Comedy, Drama
Sirat
By Oliver Laxe - Spiritual Drama
New Wave
By Richard Linklater - Comedy, Musical Drama
Two Prosecutors
By Sergei Loznitsa - Political Drama, Docu - Fiction
Fuori
By Mario Martone - Drama
O Agente Secreto (The Secret Agent)
By Kleber Mendonça - Thriller, Political Drama
Dossier 137
By Dominik Moll - Mystery, Thriller
It Was Just an Accident
By Jafar Panahi - Social Drama
Die My Love
By Lynne Ramsay - Psychological Drama
The Mastermind
By Kelly Reichardt - Drama, Crime
Woman and Child
By Saeed Roustaee - Family, Drama
Eagles of The Republic
By Tarik Saleh - Political Thriller
Sound of Falling
By Mascha Schilinski - Drama
Romería
By Carla Simón- Drama
Affeksjonsverdi (Sentimental Value)
By Joachim Trier - Romance, Drama
Un Certain Regard
This category highlights bold, innovative or debut films, that offer a different take on storytelling. Think raw, experimental, boundary pushing cinema from voices that deserve your attention.
Eleanor The Great
By Scarlett Johansson | 1st film - Comedy - Drama
Love Me Tender
By Anna Cazenave Cambet - Romantic Drama
La Misteriosa Mirada Del Flamenco (The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo)
By Diego Céspedes - Drama, Mystery
Pillion
By Harry Lighton | 1st film - Drama
L'inconnu De La Grande Arche
By Stéphane Demoustier - Thriller, Legal Drama
Karavan
By Zuzana Kirchnerova | 1st film - Drama
My Father's Shadow
By Akinola Davies Jr | 1st film - Family Drama
Homebound
By Neeraj Ghaywan - Social Drama
Météors
By Hubert Charuel - Drama
Urchin
By Harris Dickinson | 1st film - Drama
A Pale View of Hills
By Ishikawa Kei - Psychological Drama
Un Poeta
By Simón Mesa Soto - Drama
Aisha Can't Fly Away
By Morad Mostafa | 1st film - Social Drama
Once Upon a Time in Gaza
By Arab et Tarzan Nasser - Political Drama
O Riso e a Faca (I Only Rest In The Storm)
By Pedro Pinho - Experimental Drama
The Plague
By Charlie Polinger | 1st film - Drama
Promised Sky
By Erige Sehiri - Drama
Le Città Di Pianura (The Last One For The Road)
By Francesco Sossai - Drama
The Chronology of Water
By Kristen Stewart | 1st film - Autobiographical Drama
Testa o Croce? (Heads or Tails?)
By Zoppis, Alessio Rigo de Righi - Drama, Comedy
Out of Competition
Not everything at Cannes is about trophies, some films are just to make splash. This category features major premieres, star studded filmes, and cinematic events that are screened purely for the joy of film. See what's lighting up the red carpet.
Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning
By Christopher Mcquarrie - Action, Spy Thriller
Highest 2 Lowest
By Spike Lee - Music Documentary
Colours of The Time
By Cédric Klapisch - Sci-Fi, Drama
A Private Life
By Rebecca Zlotowsi - Drama
La Femme La Plus Riche du Monde
By Thierry Klifa - Biographical Drama
13 jours, 13 Nuits
By Martin Bourboulon - Historical Drama
Cannes Premiere
This is where established filmmakers return to the Croisette with fresh work, sometimes more personal, sometimes more daring, always worth watching.
New works from acclaimed directors!
Amrum
By Faith Akin - Drama
Das Verschwinden Des Josef Menfele (The Disappearance of Josef Mengele) -
By Kirill Serebrennikov - Historical Drama
Orwell: 2+2=5
By Raoul Peck - Political Documentary
Splitsville
By Michael Angelo Covino - Comedy, Drama
La Ola (The Wave)
By Sebastián Lelio - Drama
Magalhães
By Lav Diaz - Historical Drama
Connemara
By Alex Lutz - Comedy, Drama
Ástin Sem Eftir Er (The Love That Remains)
By Hlynur Pálmason - Drama
Ma Frère (My Brother)
By Lise akoka & Romane Gueret - Family Drama
Love on Trial
By Kōji Fukada - Romantic Drama
Midnight Screenings
Expect genre Flicks, cult films, and wild rides that keep the festival buzzing after dark. if you're into horror, thriller, or offbeat brilliance, this is your section.
Exit 8
By Kawamura Genki - Sci-Fi Drama
Sons of The Neon Night
By Mak Juno - Action, Thriller
Honey Don't
By Ethan Coen - Crime Comedy
Le Roi Soleil
By Vicent Maël Carsona - Musical Drama
Dalloway
By Yann Gozlan - Thriller
Special Screenings
Films selected for their cultural, historical, or artistic value. these often include tributes, documentaries, or works with a strong social message. They're less about competition and more about celebration and reflection.
See what's being honored.
Bono: Stories of Surrender
By Andrew Dominik - Documentary, Biography
Arco
By Ugo Bienvenu | 1st film - Sci-Fi, Drama, Animated
Tell her I Love Her
By Romane Bohringer - Drama, Docu-Fiction
A Magnificent Life
By Sylvain Chomet - Animated Fantasy, Surreal Comedy
Qui Brille Au Combat (Who Shines in Battle)
By Joséphine Japy | 1st film - Drama
The Six Billion Dollar Man
By Eugene Jarecki - Documentary, Socioeconomic Critique
Women Directors at Cannes 2025
This year's lineup features a powerful wave of women led cinema, with more films than ever directed or co-directed by women across all categories. From debut features to genre bending art house films and high profile premieres, their presence is undeniable and thrilling.
This isn't just representation, it's revolution. These voices are reshaping cinema, offering new perspectives, and breaking barriers in one of the industry's most iconic spaces.
Kristen Stewart
The Chronology of Water (Un Certain Regard, her directional debut) - Romance, Drama
Carla Simón
ROMERÍA (In Competiton) - Drama
Julia Ducournau
Alpha (In Competition) - Drama
Scarlett Johansson
Eleanor The Great - Drama
Kelly Reichardt
The Mastermind - Crime Drama, Art Heist
Chie Hayakawa
Renoir - Drama
Mascha Schilinski
Sounds of Falling - Historical Drama
Rebecca Zlofowski
Vié Privée - Mystery, Psychological Thriller
Inês Nunes
The Loneliness of Lizards - Short Film
Natalia Mirzoyan
Winter in March - Stop Motion Animated Short
Josephine Japy
The Wonderes - Family Drama
Sandra Desmazieres
Fille de L’eau - Animated Short
Vida Skerk
Ether - Drama
Oumnia Hanader
Bimo - Short Film
Polina Piddubna
My Grandmother is a Skydiver - Animated Documentary Short
Zuzana Kirchnerová
Caravan - Drama
Anna Cazenave
Love me tender - Drama
Lynne Ramsay
Di, My Love - Drama, Thriller
Amelie Bonnin
Bye bye - Short Film
Hafsia Herzi
La Petite Derniére - Drama
Martine Frossard
Hypersensitive - Animated Short, Surreal Drama
Romane Bohringer
Tell Her I Love Her - Drama
Who Can Attend Cannes?
Cannes has a reputation for exclusivity, but here's the deal:
- Industry Professionals - With accreditation, filmmakers, distributors, press and buyers can access official screenings, networking events and the Marché du Film.
- General public -
You don't need a press badge to get a taste of Cannes:
- Free open-air screenings at Plage Macé (yes, on the beach!)
- Limited festival passes for locals and early birds
Key Details for 2025
Dates: May 13 - 24, 2025
Location: Cannes, French Riviera
Main Venue: Palais des Festivals
Official Website: https://www.festival-cannes.com/
Follow These Films And Artists After Cannes
Not heading to the Riviera? No worries, Outhere has your back. After Cannes wraps up, many of these films will hit theaters and festivals around the glove, and we'll be tracking them for you.
- Expect updates on where, when, and how you can catch the most buzzworthy titles near you. Think curated lists, insider picks, and maybe event artist talks and special screenings.
Stay close, we'll make sure you don't miss a best of Cannes 2025, wherever you are.
