Cannes Film Festival: Official Selection

The Cannes Film Festival 2025 is back for its 78th edition, from May 13 to 24, 2025! This Thursday, April 10, saw the eagerly-awaited press conference unveiling the first out-of-competition and in-competition films. Thierry Frémaux and Iris Knobloch announced the list of films selected for this new edition of the Cannes Film Festival, a list that will be completed by a second announcement in the course of next week.

Thierry Frémaux reported that, this year, the festival's selection committee viewed 2,909 feature films (a record!) from 56 countries in order to draw up this list - 68% of which were directed by men, 32% by women, and 1,127 of which were first films. French director Amélie Bonnin's first film, Partir un Jour, starring Juliette Armanet, Bastien Bouillon and François Rollin, opened the festival out of competition.

The official selection, in competition for the 2025 Palme d'Or, includes 22 feature films, 7 of which are directed by women (compared to 4 last year). Without further ado, we unveil the official selection for the Cannes Film Festival 2025!

Official Selection films competing for the Palme d'Or

Bi Gan's Resurrection, Special Jury Prize at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival
Chinese filmmaker Bi Gan presented his new film, Resurrection, at the Cannes Film Festival 2025. It was awarded the Prix Spécial du Jury. [Read more]

Die my Love by Lynne Ramsay, in Official Competition at Cannes 2025: Our opinion
The cast of Die my Love, Lynne Ramsay's new film in official competition at the Cannes 2025 Film Festival, includes an outstanding duo: Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson. Find out what we think. [Read more]

Woman and Child by Saeed Roustaee, competing in the official selection at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival
Iranian filmmaker Saeed Roustaee returns to Cannes 2025 with his film Mother and Child. [Read more]

A mere accident: Jafar Panahi wins the Palme d’Or 2025
Palme d'Or at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, Un simple accident by Jafar Panahi is an Iranian political drama exploring themes of revenge and memory. It hits theaters on October 1, 2025. [Read more]

Sentimental Value: Joachim Trier's Award-Winning Drama at Cannes
Cannes Film Festival Grand Prize 2025, Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value brings together Renate Reinsve and Stellan Skarsgård. Release in France scheduled for August 20, 2025. [Read more]

Romería, a drama by Carla Simón, set to hit theaters in April 2026
Carla Simón’s Romería, an Spanish drama competing in the official Cannes 2025 lineup, hits theaters on April 8, 2026. [Read more]

Echoes of the Past, a Cannes-winning drama, now in theaters
Les Échos du passé by Mascha Schilinski, winner of the Jury Prize at Cannes 2025, hits theaters on January 7, 2026. This German drama explores themes of memory and the passage of time. [Read more]

Les Aigles de la République by Tarik Saleh, official competition at the Cannes Film Festival: Our opinion
Les Aigles de la République (Eagles of the Republic), Tarik Saleh's new film, has been presented in official competition at the Cannes 2025 Film Festival, and is therefore in contention for the Palme d'Or. Find out what we think. [Read more]

The Mastermind, Kelly Reichardt’s gripping thriller hits theaters
Kelly Reichardt's The Mastermind, a crime thriller starring Josh O’Connor and showcased in competition at Cannes 2025, hits theaters on February 4, 2026. [Read more]

Dossier 137 by Dominik Moll, in Official Competition at Cannes 2025: Our opinion
Will Dominik Moll's new film Dossier 137 match the success of La Nuit du 12? The feature film was unveiled in official competition at the Cannes 2025 Film Festival. Find out what we think. [Read more]

L'Agent Secret by Kleber Mendonça Filho, Prix de la Mise en Scène at the Cannes Film Festival: Our opinion
Kleber Mendonça Filho presented his new film L'Agent Secret at the Cannes Film Festival 2025, from which he walked away with the Prix de la Mise en Scène and the Prix d'Interprétation Masculine for Wagner Moura. Read our review. [Read more]

Mario Martone's Fuori, in Official Competition at Cannes 2025: Our verdict
Mario Martone's Fuori is in official competition at Cannes 2025. Read our review. [Read more]

Two Prosecutors: historical drama by Sergei Loznitsa in theaters
Two Prosecutors, a historical drama by Sergei Loznitsa presented in competition at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, will be released in theaters on November 5, 2025. [Read more]

Richard Linklater's New Wave in theaters: our review
Directed by Richard Linklater, Nouvelle Vague, starring Zoey Deutch and Guillaume Marbeck, was presented at Cannes 2025 and will be released in cinemas on October 8. Read our review. [Read more]

Sirat by Oliver Laxe, Prix du Jury at the Cannes Film Festival 2025: Our verdict
Jury Prize at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival — Sirat, directed by Oliver Laxe, is a sensory drama set amidst the Moroccan desert. The film hits theaters on September 10, 2025. [Read more]

Hafsia Herzi's La Petite Dernière, Prix d'Interprétation Féminine at the Cannes Film Festival: Our opinion
La Petite Dernière, a drama by Hafsia Herzi starring Nadia Melliti, adapted from the novel by Fatima Daas, will be released in theaters on October 22, 2025, after its presentation at the Cannes Film Festival. [Read more]

The Sound of Memories, a historical drama starring Mescal and O’Connor
Oliver Hermanus's The Sound of Memories, starring Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor, premiered in competition at Cannes 2025 and hits theaters on February 25, 2026. [Read more]

Renoir by Chie Hayakawa, in official competition at the Cannes Festival 2025
Chie Hayakawa returns to the Cannes Film Festival 2025, in Official Competition, with his second film Renoir. [Read more]

Alpha: Julia Ducournau's heart-wrenching family drama on VOD
Presented in competition at Cannes 2025, Julia Ducournau's Alpha will be released on VOD on January 6, 2026, following its theatrical release on August 20, 2025. [Read more]

Jeunes Mères by the Dardenne brothers, Screenplay Prize at the Cannes Film Festival 2025: Our opinion
The Dardenne brothers were back at Cannes 2025 with Jeunes Mères. The film was awarded the Prix du Scénario. Read our review. [Read more]

Ari Aster's Eddington, in Official Competition at Cannes 2025: Our verdict
Ari Aster is in official competition at Cannes 2025 with his new film, Eddington. Find out what we think. [Read more]

Wes Anderson's The Phoenician Scheme, in official competition at the Cannes Film Festival: Our opinion
Wes Anderson signs The Phoenician Scheme, a comedy with a prestigious cast (Benicio Del Toro, Scarlett Johansson, Michael Cera), in official competition at the Cannes Film Festival 2025 and in cinemas on May 28, 2025. Read our review. [Read more]

The Un Certain Regard selection

Love me Tender by Anna Cazenave Cambet, in the Un Certain Regard selection at the Cannes Festival 2025
Adapted from the book by Constance Debré, Anna Cazenave Cambet's Love me Tender is in the Un Certain Regard selection at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. [Read more]

A Poet by Simón Mesa Soto, in the Un Certain Regard selection at the Cannes Festival 2025
A regular at Cannes, director Simón Mesa Soto presents his new film, Un Poète, in the Un Certain Regard 2025 selection. [Read more]

Le Rire et le Couteau by Pedro Pinho, in the Un Certain Regard selection at the Cannes 2025 Festival
Director Pedro Pinho will present his new film, Le Rire et le Couteau, in the Un Certain Regard selection at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. [Read more]

The Chronology of Water: Kristen Stewart's first film in theaters
The Chronology of Water, directed by Kristen Stewart and starring Imogen Poots, is adapted from the novel by Lidia Yuknavitch. Presented at Cannes and Deauville, it will be released on October 15, 2025. [Read more]

The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo: Chilean Drama Awarded at Cannes
The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo is Diego Céspedes' debut feature. Winner of the Un Certain Regard prize at Cannes 2025, it will hit theaters on February 18, 2026. [Read more]

Météors by Hubert Charuel, in the Un Certain Regard selection at the Cannes Festival 2025
After Petit Paysan, Hubert Charuel returns to Cannes 2025 with Météors, presented in the Un Certain Regard selection. [Read more]

My Fathers Shadow by Akinola Davies Jr, special mention for the Caméra d'Or at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival
Nigeria is represented for the first time at Cannes, with the selection of Akinola Davies Jr.'s My Father's Shadow in the Un Certain Regard section. The film was awarded the Caméra d'Or special mention at the Cannes 2025 Festival. [Read more]

L’inconnu de la Grande Arche: historical drama by Stéphane Demoustier in theaters
L’inconnu de la Grande Arche, a historical drama by Stéphane Demoustier starring Claes Bang and Xavier Dolan, will be released in theaters on November 5, 2025. [Read more]

Urchin, Harris Dickinson's debut film in theaters
Urchin is Harris Dickinson's debut feature film, starring Frank Dillane and Megan Northam. The movie was unveiled at Cannes 2025 and is set to hit theaters on February 11, 2026. [Read more]

An Indian Youth — Homebound: a poignant drama by Neeraj Ghaywan
An Indian Youth – Homebound is the latest film by Neeraj Ghaywan, unveiled at Cannes 2025 in the Un Certain Regard section. Starring Ishaan Khatter, it hits theaters on March 25, 2026. This is Ghaywan’s second film featured in the Un Certain Regard lineup at Cannes 2025. [Read more]

Faint glow over the hills in Kei Ishikawa's film, selected for Un Certain Regard at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival
Japan's Kei Ishikawa will be present at Cannes 2025, in the Un Certain Regard selection, with his film A Pale View of Hills. [Read more]

Eleanor the Great: Scarlett Johansson's directorial debut in theaters in November 2025
Eleanor the Great, a comedy-drama directed by Scarlett Johansson, hits theaters on November 19, 2025. Starring June Squibb, Erin Kellyman, and Chiwetel Ejiofor. [Read more]

Caravane, a drama by Zuzana Kirchnerová, hits theaters
Caravane is Zuzana Kirchnerová’s feature debut, making its debut in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes 2025. Starring Aňa Geislerová, the film hits theaters on April 22, 2026. [Read more]

Pillion, a groundbreaking queer drama starring Alexander Skarsgård, wins an award at Cannes and hits theaters in March 2026
Pillion, a queer drama by Harry Lighton starring Alexander Skarsgård, follows a young man exploring life in a gay motorcycle club. The film is scheduled for release on March 4, 2026. [Read more]

Aisha Can't Fly Away by Morad Mostafa, in Un Certain Regard selection at Cannes 2025
Aisha Can't Fly Away, Morad Mostafa's first film, will be presented in the Un Certain Regard selection at the Cannes Festival 2025. [Read more]

Once Upon a Time in Gaza by Tarzan and Arab Nasser, in Un Certain Regard selection at Cannes 2025
Once Upon a Time in Gaza, the new film by brothers Tarzan and Arab Nasser, will be presented in the Un Certain Regard selection at the Cannes Festival 2025. [Read more]

Charlie Polinger's The Plague, in Un Certain Regard selection at the Cannes Festival 2025
The Plague is Charlie Polinger's first feature film. It will be presented in the Un Certain Regard selection at the Cannes Festival 2025. [Read more]

Promise to Heaven, a powerful drama by Erige Sehiri starring Aïssa Maïga
Promised Heaven by Erige Sehiri, starring Aïssa Maïga, has been selected for Un Certain Regard at Cannes 2025 and will hit theaters on January 28, 2026. [Read more]

Heads or tails? Western starring John C. Reilly hits the theaters
Heads or tails? Pile ou face? by Alessio Rigo de Righi and Matteo Zoppis, a Western screening at Cannes 2025, featuring John C. Reilly, in theaters from January 7, 2026. [Read more]

A Final Send-Off, Italian comedy set to hit theaters in April 2026
A Final Farewell de Francesco Sossai, an Italian dramedy showcased in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes 2025, hits theaters on April 8, 2026. [Read more]

The Cannes Première selection

Ma Frère: the trailer for the new comedy-drama by Lise Akoka & Romane Guéret
After Cannes 2025, Ma Frère by Lise Akoka and Romane Gueret will be released in theaters on January 7, 2026, starring Fanta Kebe, Shirel Nataf, and Amel Bent. [Read more]

Never-Ending Light: Japanese Drama by Kōji Fukada
Never Dims by Kōji Fukada, a compelling drama showcased at Cannes Première 2025, starring Kyōko Saitō, hits theaters on February 18, 2026. [Read more]

The Love that Remains by Hlynur Pálmason, in the Cannes Première selection at the Festival de Cannes 2025
Icelandic director Hlynur Pálmason's new film, The Love that Remains, joins the Cannes Première selection for the Festival de Cannes 2025. [Read more]

Magellan, a biopic by Lav Diaz starring Gael García Bernal
Magellan by Lav Diaz, a historical biopic starring Gael García Bernal, was featured in the Cannes Première lineup for 2025 and hits theaters on December 31, 2025. [Read more]

A German childhood by Fatih Akin, selected for Cannes Première at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival
Amrum is Fatih Akin's new film, to be unveiled in the Cannes Première selection at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. [Read more]

Free Exchange (Splitsville) by Michael Angelo Covino was selected for Cannes Première at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.
Dakota Johnson is in the cast of Splitsville, the new film by Michael Angelo Covino, presented in the Cannes Première selection at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. [Read more]

Connemara: the trailer for Alex Lutz's film is online
The trailer for Connemara, directed by Alex Lutz and presented at Cannes 2025, reveals Mélanie Thierry and Bastien Bouillon in a romance after Nicolas Mathieu. [Read more]

The Disappearance of Josef Mengele: Kirill Serebrennikov returns to the silver screen
Directed by Kirill Serebrennikov and starring August Diehl, Friederike Becht and Dana Herfurth, The Disappearance of Josef Mengele (original title Das Verschwinden des Josef Mengele) is a historical biopic adapted from the novel by Olivier Guez, in theaters in France on October 22, 2025. [Read more]

Orwell: "2+2=5," Raoul Peck's new documentary hitting theaters
Orwell: 2+2=5 is the latest documentary by Raoul Peck about George Orwell, premiering at Cannes Première 2025. It hits theaters nationwide on February 25, 2026. [Read more]

The Wave: comedy-drama and musical by Sebastián Lelio in theaters
The Wave, Sebastián Lelio's new film presented at Cannes 2025, will be released in theaters on November 5, 2025. A dramatic musical comedy about the Chilean feminist movement. [Read more]

Off-Competition films

13 Days, 13 Nights — Martin Bourboulon's gripping real-life thriller airing on Canal+
Dramatic thriller directed by Martin Bourboulon, featuring Roschdy Zem and Lyna Khoudri, 13 Days 13 Nights will air on Canal+ on December 30, 2025, at 9:07 p.m. [Read more]

The Venue of the Future: A Temporal Journey Crafted by Cédric Klapisch
Premiering out of competition at Cannes 2025, Cédric Klapisch’s The Arrival of the Future blends comedy, drama, and a journey spanning from 1895 to 2025. The film hits theaters on May 22. [Read more]

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, the epic conclusion on Canal+
Final installment of the series starring Tom Cruise, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, will premiere on Canal+ in prime time on January 11, 2026. [Read more]

The Richest Woman in the World: Isabelle Huppert at the heart of a family drama
Thierry Klifa's comedy-drama La Femme la plus riche du Monde (2025), starring Isabelle Huppert, Marina Foïs and Laurent Lafitte, is released on October 29, 2025. [Read more]

Vie Privée: Jodie Foster in French in Rebecca Zlotowski's new film
Private Life by Rebecca Zlotowski, starring Jodie Foster, Daniel Auteuil, and Virginie Efira, will be released in French theaters on November 26, 2025, after its presentation at Cannes. [Read more]

Les Séances de Minuit

Vincent Maël Cardona's Le Roi Soleil, midnight screening at Cannes Festival 2025
Le Roi Soleil, the new film by Vincent Maël Cardona, will be presented at dusk, in a midnight screening at the Cannes Film Festival 2025. [Read more]

Ethan Coen's Honey Don't!, midnight screening at Cannes Festival 2025
Ethan Coen returns to Cannes 2025 (without his brother) with Honey Don't!, his new film presented in the midnight screening. [Read more]

Dalloway: a psychological thriller presented at Cannes 2025
Presented as a midnight screening at the Cannes Festival 2025, Dalloway is a science-fiction thriller by Yann Gozlan, starring Cécile de France and Mylène Farmer. [Read more]

Exit 8 by Genki Kawamura, midnight screening at Cannes Festival 2025
Genki Kawamura's Exit 8, adapted from the video game of the same name, will be presented as a midnight screening at the Cannes Film Festival 2025. [Read more]

Juno Mak's Sons of the Neon Night, midnight screening at the Cannes Film Festival 2025
Juno Mak's Sons of the Neon Night will be presented as a midnight screening at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. [Read more]

Special Sessions

Eugene Jarecki's The Six Billion Dollar Man, in special screening at Cannes Festival 2025
The Six Billion Dollar Man, a documentary about Julian Assange directed by Eugene Jarecki, will be unveiled as a special screening at the Cannes Film Festival 2025. [Read more]

Amélie and the metaphysics of tubes: a heartfelt animated adaptation inspired by Nothomb
Animated film based on Amélie Nothomb’s work, Amélie and the Metaphysics of Tubes explores the author’s childhood in Japan. Set to hit theaters on June 25, 2025. [Read more]

Mama d'Or Sinai, a special screening at the Cannes Festival 2025
Adapted from her short film Anna, Mama d'Or Sinai is in special screening at Cannes 2025. [Read more]

Arco, a captivating sci-fi animated tale directed by Ugo Bienvenu
Science fiction animated film, Arco by Ugo Bienvenu follows the encounter between a young girl from 2075 and a boy from the future. The movie is set to hit theaters on October 22, 2025. [Read more]

Who Shines in Battle: Joséphine Japy’s Debut Film in Theaters
Who Shines in Joséphine Japy's Family Drama Presented as a special screening at Cannes 2025 and released in cinemas on December 31, 2025, Who Shines is a compelling family drama directed by Joséphine Japy that explores the intricate dynamics within a contemporary family unit. [Read more]

Pierre Richard's L'Homme qui a vu l'Ours qui a vu l'Homme, in special screening at Cannes 2025
Pierre Richard's L'Homme qui a vu l'Ours qui a vu l'Homme will be unveiled in a special screening at the Cannes Film Festival 2025. [Read more]

Bono's Stories of Surrender, a special screening at Cannes 2025
U2 singer Bono will present his new documentary film, Stories of Surrender, in a special screening at the Cannes Film Festival 2025 before its release on Apple TV+ on May 30. [Read more]

Dites-lui que je l'aime by Romane Bohringer, in a special screening at the Cannes Festival 2025
Dites-lui que je l'aime by Romane Bohringer, adapted from the book by Clémentine Autain, will be presented as a special screening at Cannes 2025. [Read more]

Marcel et Monsieur Pagnol: the clip signed by SCH ahead of the film's release
Sylvain Chomet's animated film Marcel et Monsieur Pagnol, inspired by the world of the famous Provencal author, will be released in cinemas on October 15, 2025 following its premiere at Cannes. [Read more]