The Cannes Film Festival is not just about glitz and glamor. It is also a major marketplace where filmmakers seek movie distribution deals. Several high-profile projects are generating buzz this year and could spark bidding wars among studios and streamers.
One of the most anticipated films is an untitled project from Florian Zeller, the director of the Oscar-winning “The Father.” The thriller stars real-life couple Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz. Bardem plays an architect hired to build a survivalist bunker for a tech billionaire, while Cruz portrays his wife, who questions their marriage. Another hot property is the feature directorial debut of actor Harris Dickinson.
The film, which is premiering in the Un Certain Regard section, tells the story of a drifter trying to reintegrate into society. It is already earning praise for its compelling portrayal of mental health issues. Comedy is also well-represented at the market.
David Wain directs an untitled R-rated comedy starring Zoey Deutch, Jon Hamm, Ben Wang, and John Slattery. The film revolves around a woman whose relationship is threatened when her fiancé uses his celebrity hall pass.
Fierce bidding drives Cannes market
With the resurgence of raunchy comedies, this project could attract strong interest. On the action front, “Ruin” pairs Gal Gadot and Matthias Schoenaerts in a post-World War II revenge tale directed by Niki Caro. Dakota Fanning and Lindsay Duncan lead the offbeat comedy “Ashes” from Sally Potter, which is about a family dealing with their mother’s ghostly presence.
Olivia Wilde is generating heat with “The Invite,” a comedy she directs and stars in alongside Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton. The film explores a couple’s “get to know you” dinner with neighbors that unearths repressed feelings. Documentaries are also drawing attention.
Eugene Jarecki’s “The Six Billion Dollar Man” examines press freedom through the lens of Julian Assange and features never-before-seen footage. Strange Arrivals, based on a podcast, recounts the first reported alien abduction case. Other notable projects include “The Accompanist,” a magical realism tale starring Susan Sarandon and Aubrey Plaza, and “Séance on a Wet Afternoon,” a thriller remake led by Rachel Weisz.
Rachel Zegler and Marisa Tomei star in the unconventional family story “She Gets It From Me.” Natalie Portman portrays scientist Rosalind Franklin in the biopic “Photograph 51.”
With such a star-studded lineup of projects, the Cannes Film Market could see fierce bidding wars and major deals reminiscent of pre-pandemic times. The film industry will watch closely to see which titles emerge as the biggest winners.
