Spotlight on Cannes: Films, Trends, and Big Moments to Watch

Cannes Film Festival Returns: Key Themes, Stars, and Controversies to Watch

The glamour of the Cannes Film Festival makes its annual return to the French Riviera on Tuesday, bringing a mix of cinematic celebration and political undercurrents.

AFP takes a look at the major stories, films, and personalities expected to dominate both the red carpet and global headlines during the May 13–24 spectacle:

#MeToo Resurfaces
Though he's not a Cannes regular and hasn’t made a film in years, French screen icon Gérard Depardieu is likely to be at the center of attention as a Paris court delivers a verdict Tuesday in the first of two sexual assault trials involving the "Cyrano de Bergerac" and "Green Card" star. His case follows the release of a damning parliamentary report on sexual abuse in French cinema last month.

The Trump Effect
U.S. President Donald Trump casts a long shadow once again, this time over the film world. His recent announcement of a 100-percent tariff on foreign-made films has rattled the industry, despite the lack of clarity on how such a policy would be enforced. France’s Culture Minister Rachida Dati warned the move would harm the U.S. film industry more than international players. Whether any major American stars at Cannes will publicly respond remains to be seen.

Hollywood Stars Descend
Tom Cruise is expected to dazzle with the premiere of the latest “Mission: Impossible,” while Robert De Niro will be honored with an honorary Palme d’Or. Cruise remains famously apolitical, in stark contrast to De Niro, a vocal Trump critic. Other A-listers set to appear include Jennifer Lawrence, Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone, and Denzel Washington. Halle Berry and Jeremy Strong will also serve on the festival jury.

Actors Behind the Camera
Several prominent actors will make their directorial debuts. Scarlett Johansson, also starring in Wes Anderson’s "The Phoenician Scheme," presents her first film, Eleanor the Great, in the "Un Certain Regard" section. Kristen Stewart also premieres her directorial debut, The Chronology of Water, in the same category. British actor Harris Dickinson joins the directorial ranks with Urchin.

A Tragedy in Gaza
Tragedy struck days after Cannes confirmed a documentary on Palestinian photojournalist Fatima Hassouna would screen at the parallel ACID program. Hassouna and ten family members were killed in an Israeli airstrike. The film, Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk, by Iranian director Sepideh Farsi, has since drawn intensified attention. Palestinian filmmakers Tarzan and Arab Nasser also return to Cannes with Once Upon a Time in Gaza, a tale of survival and friendship amid conflict.

The Palme d’Or Race
Twenty-two films are in contention for this year’s Palme d’Or. Familiar names like Belgium’s Dardenne brothers return with Young Mothers, while themes of motherhood and the AIDS crisis of the 1980s recur in films like Julia Ducournau’s Alpha and Carla Simón’s Romeria. British actor Josh O’Connor stars in two contenders: The History of Sound and The Mastermind. Iranian entries A Simple Accident by Jafar Panahi and Mother and Child by Saeed Roustaee will be under close watch from both Cannes audiences and Iranian authorities.

Documentary Highlights
Non-fiction storytelling will be in the spotlight with documentaries on U2’s Bono, George Orwell (directed by Raoul Peck), and Wikileaks founder Julian Assange. The latter, The Six-Billion-Dollar Man by Eugene Jarecki, was withdrawn from Sundance to incorporate recent major developments, making it one of the festival’s most anticipated entries.