The press conference of the Cannes Film Festival, of which The 77th edition will be held from May 14 to 25, 2024took place this morning with a particular solemnity, marked by the palpable emotion of president Iris KnoBloch and the contagious enthusiasm of Thierry Frémaux, general delegate. The details abound, revealing the complexity and extent of this world renowned cinematographic event.
Iris KnoBloch, radiant of pride and emotion, opened the session with a poignant speech, expressing his gratitude and his pride for this renewed opportunity to preside over this prestigious festival.
She underlined the incredible craze that she observed both in newcomers and among the festival veterans, highlighting this unique magic which transcends generations and cinematographic routes. For Iris KnoBloch, the Cannes Film Festival is an unforgettable meeting, an eternal first time when excitement and emotion mingle in an enchanting ballet.
By evoking the previous edition, the president highlighted the remarkable achievements of 2023, eloquent figures attesting to the resounding success of that year. With a record of 220,000 admissions, increased participation of more than 14,000 professionals in the film market, representing more than 120 countries, and an impressive television audience of 3.2 million viewers during the closing ceremony broadcast on France 2, the Cannes Festival once again marked the spirits and conquered the hearts of cinema lovers.
In addition, on social networks, the festival was the most mentioned cinematographic event, even competing with the Oscars across the Atlantic. The influence and scope of the event cannot be overestimated, with no less 9 films from the official selection combining 26 Oscar nominations,, winning three golden statuettes, and seeing the Grand Prix (The Zone of Interest by Jonathan Glazer) and the palm of gold (Anatomy of a fall of Justine Triet) Figure side by side in the Oscar category for the best film.
This resounding success is also attributed to the precious partners of the festival, whose commitment and support were essential to its realization. In particular, Iris KnoBloch expressed her gratitude to partners such as gross and others, emphasizing their contribution essential to the highlighting of cinematographic talents.
As for the upcoming edition, The president of the jury, the actress, screenwriter and director Greta Gerwig, was announced with enthusiasm. This appointment is perceived as immense joy for the organizing team, Greta Gerwig perfectly embodying the spirit and the values of the Cannes Film Festival. His love for cinema and his ability to reinvent standards are praised, as well as his commitment to the diversity of genres and audiences.
The announcement of Xavier Dolan as president of the jury of a certain look is also welcomed, stressing the importance given to young talents and emerging voices in the film industry.
Furthermore, the female presence is in the spotlight this year, with Camille Cottin as a mistress of ceremonies, a decision which particularly delights Iris KnoBloch.
Finally, a highlight of this edition will be the handing over a palm of gold of honor to George Lucas, A tribute deserved for a cinema legend which has marked the collective imagination through its iconic creations with its imprint.
Beyond the glamor and glitter, the Cannes festival embodies a tradition of excellence and passion for cinema, carried by a dedicated and passionate team that the president wanted to thank.
Thierry Frémaux, general delegate, later spoke to present the first elements of this selection. In his speech, he expressed his gratitude to the audience present at the UGC Normandy, stressing the importance of this event and the hard work of the selection teams that watched more than 2,000 films. He also paid tribute to the festival’s critical and journalistic story, stressing the crucial role played by the media in his success.
The general delegate honored the memory of Michel Ciment, emeritus film criticism and editorial director of Positive – cinema monthly reviewby dedicating this year’s selection to his memory. He spoke of the hard work and the passion for cement for cinema, recalling his central role in the French cinematographic landscape.
Thierry Frémaux then underlined the challenges that the American film industry was faced due to an extended strike, while announcing the presence of great Hollywood figures such as Kevin Costner and George Lucas during the festival. He also celebrated the centenary of the Colombia studio, which will be honored in Cannes this year.
Regarding the official selection, Frémaux detailed the various usual subgroups, highlighting the growing success of the “Cannes Premier” section, which offers a platform to the directors established to present their latest work without any particular constraints. He also stressed the importance of the “Un Certain Regard” section, which highlights emerging and experimental cinema.
The press conference ended with the reading of the official selection, starting with the special sessions and concluding with the competition, suggesting a diverse and captivating program for this historic edition of the Cannes Festival. It should be noted that this selection is not final and that other films would be announced in the days to come.
In addition to the films already announced, such as The second act de Quentin Dupieux (opening film), Horizon: An American Saga by Kevin Costner and Furiosa: a Mad Max saga From George Miller, all presented out of competition, several other titles shone by their remarkable presence. Among them, Megalopolis by Francis Ford Coppola, in competition, signs the long -awaited return of the cinema titan, 45 years after his second palm of gold for Revelation Now in 1979. Coppola had previously won his first golden palm with Secret conversation in 1974.
Familiar directors of the festival are also coming back in force this year. Karim Ainouz, present in 2023 with Queen’s gamein 2021 with Mountain marineand having won the A certain look in 2019 with The invisible life of Eurídice Gusmãocomes back with Motel Destino. David Cronenberg, present in Cannes in 2022 with The crimes of the future is back with The Shrouds. Paolo Sorrentino, after presenting La Grande Bellezza in 2013 and Youth In 2015, returned with Parthenope.
The selection also includes Arab and African films that enrich the cultural diversity of the event. Nabil Ayouch present Everybody LOVES TOUDA (Morocco) In the “Raw Cannes” section, while in the “Un certain Look” section, we discover Norah of Tawfik Alzaidi (Saudi Arabia), The village Next to Paradise from Mo Harawe (Somalia) and We become a guinea fowl From Rungano Nyoni (Zambia), the latter being the first selections of their countries in Cannes.
In addition, Thierry Frémaux underlined the significant return of Indian cinema to Cannes this year, highlighting the richness and vitality of the contemporary Indian cinematic scene. Selected Indian films include All we imagine as light by Payal Kapadia, the first Indian film in competition for the Palme d’Or for 30 years, for Swaham (1994) by Shaji N Karun. The Shameless from Konstantin Bojanov and Santosh From Sandhya Suri are also presented in the Un certain Locat section, thus strengthening the international scope and the diversity of the programming.
This selection thus promises a festival rich in discoveries, emotions and celebration of the best of world cinema, once again affirming the place of Cannes as an unmissable event in the world cinematographic panorama.
Here are all the films in the 2024 selection:
COMPETITION
Opening film: The second act of Quentin Dupieux | Out of competition
The apprentice by Ali Abbasi
Motel Destino by Karim Aïnouz
Bird by Andrea Arnold
Emilia Perez by Jacques Audiard
Anora of Sean Baker
Megalopolis by Francis Ford Coppola
The Shrouds by David Cronenberg
The substance of Coralie Fargeat
Grand Tour of Miguel Gomes
Marcello Mio by Christophe Honoré
Feng Liu Yi Dai (Caught by the Tides) by Jia Zhang-K
All We Im Imagine AS Light of Payal Kapadia
Kinds of Kindness of Yórgos Lánthimos
Love phew of Gilles Lellouche
Raw Diamond by Agathe Rieddinger | 1st film
Oh Canada by Paul Schrader
Limonov – The Ballad by Kirill Serebrennikov
Parthenope of Paolo Sorrentino
Pigen Med Nålen (The Girl With The Needle) by Magnus von Horn
A certain look
Norah of Tawfik Alzaidi
The Shameless by Konstantin Bojanov
The kingdom of Julien Colonna | 1st film
Twenty gods! de Louise Courvoisier | 1st film
The dog’s trial (Who Let the Dog Bite?) Of Laetitia Dosch | 1st film
Gou Zhen (Black Dog) by Guan Hu
The Village Next to Paradise by Mo Harawe | 1st film
September Says by Ariane Labed | 1st film
The story of Souleymane de Boris Lojkine
The damned of Roberto Minervini
On Becoming A Guinea Fowl of Rungano Nyoni
Boku no ohisama (My Sunshine) by Hiroshi Okuyama
Santosh by Sandhya Suri
Viet and Nam of Truong Minh Quý
Armand de Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel | 1st film
Out of competition
She’s Got No Name by Chan Peter Ho-Sun
Horizon, an American Saga of Kevin Costner
Rumours of Evan Johnson, Galen Johnson and Guy Maddin
Furiosa: A Mad Max saga by George Miller
Midnight sessions
Twilight of the Warrior Walled in Self Cheang
The Surfer of Lorcan Finnegan
Women in the Balcony of Noémie Merlant
I, the executioner of Ryoo Seung Wan
Premier rods
Everybody LOVES TOUDA of Nabil Ayouch
It’s not me from Leos Carax
Emmanuel Courcol’s fanfare
Mercy of Alain Guiraudie
The novel by Jim de Arnaud Larrieu and Jean-Marie Larrieu
Meet with Pol Pot de Rithy Panh
Special sessions
Daniel Auteuil’s thread
Ernest Cole, Raoul Peck photographer
The invasion of Sergei Loznitsa
Learn by Claire Simon
The Beauty of Gaza by Yolande Zauberman
Neïla Driss
