Joel and Ethan Coen, Steven Soderbergh, Roman Polanski, Alexander Payne and relative newcomer Nicolas Winding Refn are the highlights of this year’s Cannes Film Festival program, revealed today on the fest’s official Web site. That means you have to be ready to travel overseas if you want to be one of the first audience members to see highly anticipated features like Inside Llewyn Davis, Behind the Candelabra, Nebraska and Only God Forgives.
As was reported earlier, Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby will open this year’s fest. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. A quick scan of the titles screening in Un Certain Regard reveals anticipated showings of Sofia Coppola’s The Bling Ring, Ryan Coogler’s Fruitvale Station, Claire Denis’ Les Salauds, James Franco’s As I Lay Dying and Hany Abu-Assad’s Omar.
Filmmakers James Toback, Stephen Frears, Polanski and Roberto Minervini are scheduled to have Special Screenings at this year’s event. The great Johnnie To will participate in the Midnight Screenings program with Blind Detective. And J.C. Chandor (All is Lost) and Guillaume Canet (Blood Ties) are planning on bringing new features to screen Out of Competition.
Steven Spielberg will preside over this year’s jury, returning to the scene where he debuted Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Meanwhile, Palme d’Or winner Jane Campion will preside over the short film competition category, and Danish director Thomas Vinterberg will lead the Un Certain Regard sidebar jury.
The Cannes Film Festival kicks off on May 15, and runs through May 26. Of all the titles announced today, which would you travel to France just to see ahead of everyone else?
