Festival director Thierry Fremaux speaks to reporters during a press conference to announce the Cannes film festival line up for the upcoming 72nd edition in Paris. Photo / AP
Festival director Thierry Fremaux speaks to reporters during a press conference to announce the Cannes film festival line up for the upcoming 72nd edition in Paris. Photo / AP
This year's Cannes Film Festival pits leading names including Ken Loach and Pedro Almodovar against each other in competition for the top prize, the Palme d'Or.
The two festival veterans, as well as the Dardenne brothers, Jim Jarmusch, Terrence Malick and Xavier Dolan — all former winners at the FrenchRiviera festival — will return for the May 14-25 event.
Four female directors were among the 19 nominated in the main category. They are Jessica Hausner for Little Joe, Mati Diop for Atlantiques, Celine Schiamma for Portrait of a Young Lady on Fire and Justine Triet for Sibyl.
The last time four women were nominated, in 2011, set a record at Cannes. Last year, organisers pledged to raise the prominence of female filmmakers at festivals. This year 13 were included in the official selection — although male artists still dominate.
Jarmusch's The Dead Don't Die, a zombie comedy starring Adam Driver, Bill Murray and Chloe Sevigny as police officers protecting a small town, will open the festival on a starry and surreal note.
Malick returns after Tree of Life won the Palme d'Or in 2011 with the long-awaited A Hidden Life, about an Austrian anti-Nazi conscientious objector who was executed in 1943.
Memphis-born Ira Sachs will present Frankie starring Isabelle Huppert.
Quentin Tarantino missed out from being included with the highly anticipated Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie.
Cannes artistic director Thierry Fremaux said the movie was still in editing.
Almodovar will be back with Pain and Glory — a self-referential movie about an ageing film-maker played by Antonio Banderas, alongside longtime muse Penelope Cruz.
Other highlights will include a biopic of singer Elton John called Rocketman, which will be screened out of competition and was directed by Dexter Fletcher.
