Despite not being accepted to the 78th Annual Cannes Film Festival, I am still looking forward to all the films premiering at the festival this year. Featuring a lineup of over 100 films from dozens of different countries and backgrounds, this year’s edition of Cannes Film Festival is brewing with excitement as the festival has become a launching pad for awards contenders. With previous Palme and Oscar winners competing for the Palme d’Or, this year’s festival is shaping to be exciting. Here are 12 films you should keep your eyes on.
The Phoenician Scheme by Wes Anderson
Wealthy businessman Zsa-zsa Korda appoints his only daughter, a nun, as sole heir to his estate. As Korda embarks on a new enterprise, they soon become the target of scheming tycoons, foreign terrorists, and determined assassins.
Wes Anderson makes his return to the Cannes Film Festival, two years after Asteroid City. This time around, he is diving back into familiar thematic territory, broken relationships between fathers and their children, all the while still keeping things fresh with a whole new cast of faces. Featuring new faces such as Michael Cera, Riz Ahmed, Mia Threapleton, and more, each actor is expected to bring their own offbeat energy. The Phoenician Scheme looks to be another delightfully stylized entry in Anderson’s filmography, complete with all the meticulously crafted visuals, dry wit, and idiosyncratic charm you’d expect.
Eddington by Ari Aster
During the COVID-19 pandemic, a standoff between a small-town sheriff and mayor sparks a powder keg as neighbor is pitted against neighbor in Eddington, N.M.
Eddington marks Ari Aster’s first official appearance at the Cannes Film Festival, making a notable turning point in his career as he starts to pivot away from horror and leans into something far more absurd, surreal, and, quite frankly, unhinged. Set during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the film is already stirring conversations before its premiere, and it’s not hard to imagine why. With its bizarre tone, off-kilter humor, and the general Aster-ness of it all, Eddington seems destined to become one of the most polarizing titles at this year’s festival. Whether audiences end up loving it or hating it, one thing feels certain: people will definitely be talking about it.
Alpha by Julia Cucournau
Alpha, 13, is a troubled teenager who lives alone with her mother. Their world comes crashing down the day she comes home from school with a tattoo on her arm.
Four years after shaking up the Cannes Film Festival and taking home the prestigious Palme d’Or for Titane, the first genre films to win the coveted Palme, Julia Ducournau is back on the Croisette with her latest effort, Alpha. Known for pushing boundaries and never shying away from the grotesque, the provocative, or the deeply insane, Ducournau is ready once again to push the audience to their limits. Alpha promises to be no exception, boasting a premise that, much like her previous work, will likely divide viewers right down the middle. One thing’s for sure: Alpha isn’t going to quietly blend into the festival lineup. With Ducournau at the helm, expect something visceral, unpredictable, and impossible to ignore.
The History of Sound by Oliver Hermanus
Two young men during World War I set out to record the lives, voices and music of their American countrymen.
The History of Sound is already shaping up to be one of the most talked-about and hotly anticipated titles of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. Starring internet boyfriends Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor, who both have a knack for choosing emotionally resonant, character-driven projects, The History of Sound is shaping up to be a tearjerker. Set against the backdrop of the First World War and with its elegant aesthetic, slow-burn tension, and undeniable chemistry between its leads, The History of Sound is very much one to keep an eye on, it could very well be the festival’s breakout heartbreaker.
Die My Love by Lynne Ramsay
In a remote forgotten rural area, a mother struggles to maintain her sanity as she battles with psychosis.
Die My Love is already being talked about as an early frontrunner for the Palme d’Or, and it’s not hard to see why. The film marks the fifth time Lynne Ramsay has brought a feature to the Cannes Film Festival, solidifying her as a staple of the Croisette. Ramsay’s last appearance at Cannes in 2017, she took home the Best Screenplay award for You Were Never Really Here, and now she returns with what’s shaping up to be an equally bold and arresting entry. Die My Love is a dark comedy that promises to blur the line between emotional intensity and razor-sharp wit, led by Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson. With Ramsay’s signature psychological depth, a premise ripe for discomfort and intrigue, and two A-listers unafraid to get messy, this is absolutely one to keep an eye on as the competition unfolds.
Nouvelle Vague by Richard Linklater
Follows the production of Jean-Luc Godard’s “Breathless”.
One film that could either soar or completely miss the mark is Richard Linklater’s Nouvelle Vague, which follows the behind-the-scenes making of Jean-Luc Godard’s French New Wave masterpiece, Breathless. Now, Linklater is undeniably a fantastic director with a strong sense of cinematic style, but there is something admittedly strange about seeing an American filmmaker take on a story so deeply rooted in the DNA of French cinema. Still, with a stacked ensemble of rising stars and a premise that’s equal parts cinephile catnip and potential minefield, Nouvelle Vague is absolutely one to keep on your radar. Whether it ends up being a heartfelt homage or a misfire lost in translation, it’s definitely going to spark conversation.
O Agente Secreto by Kleber Medonca Filho
In 1977, a technology expert flees from a mysterious past and returns to his hometown of Recife in search of peace. He soon realizes that the city is far from being the refuge he seeks.
After the critical and international success of Brazil’s I’m Still Here, all eyes are now set on O Agente Secreto (The Secret Agent), another bold and timely film that dives into the dark history of Brazil’s military dictatorship, which gripped the country from 1964 to 1985. While I’m Still Here tackled the emotional and personal toll of that era, O Agente Secreto shifts gears into full-on espionage territory, promising a taut, suspenseful spy thriller based on true events. With its mix of political paranoia, high-stakes tension, and a narrative grounded in historical truth, this could very well be the kind of film that not only resonates at home but also lands with international voters. As the awards season begins to take shape, Brazil might just have another powerful contender to rally behind in this year’s Oscar race.
The Mastermind by Kelly Reichardt
In 1970, Mooney and two cohorts wander into a museum in broad daylight and steal four paintings. When holding onto the art proves more difficult than stealing them, Mooney is relegated to a life on the run.
Promising to flip the heist drama on its head, The Mastermind follows a ragtag group of goons in the aftermath of an art heist gone wrong. Directed by Kelly Reichardt and with Cannes double-billed Josh O’Connor leading the pack alongside Gaby Hoffmann, John Magaro, Bill Camp, and a solid supporting cast, The Mastermind is shaping up to be one of those under-the-radar festival films that could end up being a real crowd-pleaser. Offbeat, sharp, and oddly charming, this one definitely feels like something to keep an eye on.
Sound of Falling by Mascha Schilinski
A remote German farm harbors generations of secrets. Four women, separated by decades but united by trauma, uncover the truth behind its weathered walls.
A film that’s been quietly picking up momentum is Mascha Schilinski, Sound of Falling. With the quiet buzz it is starting to position itself as a potential tour de force heading into Cannes. While it hasn’t made a lot of noise in the mainstream conversation just yet, the early buzz surrounding it suggests something special is brewing, something intimate, emotionally charged, and maybe even a little unexpected. Schilinski, who’s been steadily carving out her own space in contemporary cinema, seems poised for a breakout moment here. With its atmospheric tone and quiet intensity, Sound of Falling could very well be one of those sleeper hit that catches the audience off guard.
Sentimental Value by Joachim Trier
An intimate and moving exploration of family, memories, and the reconciliatory power of art.
The moment that it was announced that Joachim Trier, Sentimental Value, was heading to Cannes, it solidified itself as the front-runner for the Palme d’Or. His previous film The Worst Person in the World, went on to Oscar success as the movie not only captivated audiences but also catapulted Renate Reinsve into the global spotlight when she won Best Actress at Cannes in 2021. Now, with high expectations, Trier is back with a film that’s already generating buzz. Adding to the excitement is the fact that Sentimental Value has secured U.S. distribution through NEON, a studio that’s become synonymous with Cannes success, having won the Palme d’Or five years in a row. With the stars aligning, Sentimental Value is undoubtedly a film to watch as it makes its way through the festival circuit and potentially toward award season.
Jeunes Meres by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne
Five young mothers living in a shelter strive for a better future for themselves and kids amidst challenging upbringings.
Directed by the legendary Dardenne Brothers, previous two-time winners of the Palme d’Or, Jeunes Meres (The Young Mother’s Home) marks their highly anticipated return to Cannes. Known for their ability to tackle deeply human stories, the Dardennes are once again delving into a politically narrative that’s poised to stir up emotions. With a premise that promises to move audiences to tears, Jeunes Meres is shaping up to be a deeply affecting exploration of the shared power of motherhood. If their past films are any indication, this is definitely one to keep an eye on as it makes its way through the festival, and possibly into the hearts of viewers worldwide.
Eleanor the Great by Scarlet Johansson
After seventy years with best friend, Eleanor moves to New York City for a fresh start. Making new friends at ninety proves difficult. Longing for connection, she befriends a 19-year-old student. Starring the endlessly talented June Squibb, Eleanor The Great marks the directorial debut of Scarlett Johansson. With a premise that promises to be both heartfelt and crowd-pleasing, this film is already shaping up to be a heartwarming experience. As the emotional core of the story, Squibb brings her usual depth and warmth to the role, and there’s a genuine hope that this could be the film that finally earns her the Oscar she so richly deserves. If the early buzz is anything to go by, Eleanor The Great could be a standout this season, both for its direction and for Squibb’s potentially career-defining performance.
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