Bird by Andrea Arnold / 2024 In Competition
All the poetic beauty, hypnotic magic and apparent simplicity of the cinema emerge in a scene from Rhapsody in August, authored by the great Japanese master Akira Kurosawa, 81 at the time. In this film, presented Out of Competition in Cannes in 1991, a grandmother who was a victim of the Nagasaki bombing on August 9, 1945, passes on her faith in love and integrity as a bulwark against war to her grandchildren and her American nephew, with tenderness and contemplation. The next-to-last film by the director of Sanshiro Sugata, Rashomon, Seven Samurai, Dersu Uzala and Dodes’ka-den reminds us of the importance of coming together, and seeking harmony in all things.
Mirroring the movie theater, this poster celebrates the Seventh Art, with naivety and wonder. Because it gives everyone a voice, it enables emancipation. Because it remembers wounds, it combats oblivion. Because it bears witness to perils, it calls for union. Because it soothes trauma, it helps repair the living. In a fragile world that constantly questions otherness, the Festival de Cannes reaffirms a conviction: cinema is a universal sanctuary for expression and sharing. A place where our humanity is written as much as our freedom.
Kinds Of Kindness By Yorgos Lanthimos / 2024 In Competition
Rhapsody in August by Akira Kurosawa (1991) / Graphic creation © Hartland Villa © Shochiku Co., Ltd.
The Substance by Coralie Fargeat / 2024 In Competition
Carried by its 76 editions, the international Festival de Cannes is one of the world’s most widely publicized events and certainly the most important film festival in terms of worldwide impact. Through the works, artists and themes it platforms on the world stage over the course of its 15-day line-up, the event is forever engaged in a process of self-renewal.
In order to achieve this level of longevity, the Festival de Cannes has remained faithful to its founding purpose: to draw attention to and raise the profile of films, with the aim of contributing towards the development of cinema, boosting the film industry worldwide and celebrating cinema at an international level. And to this day, this profession of faith constitutes the first article of the Festival regulations. It is a Cannes tradition to raise a glass to household names and usher emerging directors into the international film scene’s spotlight. That’s what makes Cannes, Cannes. We always painstakingly curate our offering to ensure we showcase hidden gems alongside more mainstream films.
All We Imagine As Light By Payal Kapadia / 2024 In Competition
The Shrouds (Les Linceuls) By David Cronenberg / 2024 In Competition
September Says By Ariane Labed / 2024 Un Certain Regard
The Official Selection serves to highlight the diversity of cinematic creation through its different sections, each of which has its own distinct identity. The films are screened in world preview showings, meaning it’s often the first time they come under the watchful gaze of a demanding audience made up of professionals and film lovers. Some sections culminate in awards, such as the Competition where incredibly high-level “mainstream art film” works are presented, Un Certain Regard, which recently shifted its focus to return to more experimental up-and-coming arthouse directors, and CINEF film school graduate offerings. But the Official Selection also centres on Out of Competition, Special Screenings, Midnight Screenings, and Cannes Première films, as well as heritage works screened as part of Cannes Classics and the Cinéma de la Plage. The important thing is that this Selection is both balanced and representative of cinematography at the time in terms of creativity and geography.
The Out of Competition films are often films that have a big impact on the cinematic calendar, and the Special Screenings and Midnight Screenings represent a special opportunity to view more personal works. Cannes Première was launched in 2021 to showcase silver-screen legends whose work doesn’t necessarily fit neatly in with Competition criteria, while Cannes Classics shines a light on restored copies of old favourites, as well as tributes to and documentaries about cinema. Cinema lovers can also explore the world of cinema in different ways by attending masterclasses, tributes, or exhibitions which make up the Events of an edition. In 2022, for example, the “Rendez-vous” sessions gave festival-goers the chance to spend time in the company of such exceptional artists as Tom Cruise, Alice Rohrwacher, Javier Bardem, Agnès Jaoui or Mads Mikkelsen.
L’amour Ouf (Beating Hearts) By Gilles Lellouche / Séances Du Lendemain Sélection Officielle
Motel Destino By Karim Aïnouz / 2024 In Competition
The Damned By Roberto Minervini / 2024 Un Certain Regard
At Cannes, short films feature in the Competition, at the end of which the Short Films Jury awards a Palme d’Or, and in the Short Film Corner, a platform dedicated to the art of shorts amidst the Marché du Film. These two entities operate in symbiosis to serve up an overarching snapshot of the international short film scene and foster ties between creative output and industry.
The Festival is very keen to discover new talent and act as a springboard for creation. The most important (and least visible) task is performed by the team’s Selection Committee. These talent-seekers travel the world and scour film festivals each year to unearth the most promising directors and bring a fresh look to the Official Selection.
Diamant Brut (Wild Diamond) By Agathe Riedinger / 2024 In Competition
Caught By The Tides By Jia Zhang-Ke / 2024 In Competition
Rumours By Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson & Galen Johnson / 2024 Out of Competition, Special Screenings, Midnight Screenings, and Cannes Première
The Festival’s past has been scattered with schemes designed to support fledgling talent. The Caméra d’Or for the best début film across all categories (Official Selection, Directors’ Fortnight, Critics’ Week) and the Short Films Competition, CINEF graduate films, the Résidence, the Atelier, the SFC | Rendez-vous Industry… All these initiatives combine to elevate us into a supportive observatory of trends, which is why we opted to bring them together under a single name: CINÉMA DE DEMAIN.
Festival de Cannes / 77th Edition
May 14–25, 2024 / Festival de Cannes, France
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