Auteurs rule the Cannes 2025 lineup

As we finally put 2025’s messy Oscar season in the rearview, all eyes are on Cannes for a glimpse at some of the films we’ll be debating come March of next year. Last year’s festival produced five-time Oscar winner Anora (not to mention The Substance, Flow, and, for better or worse, Emilia Pérez), and it certainly seems to be going for a repeat of that performance based on the level of talent included in its 2025 lineup.

Announced this morning in Paris (via The Hollywood Reporter), the 78th edition of the festival is set to include new films from some very familiar names. Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme will be competing, along with Ari Aster’s Joaquin Phoenix-led Eddington, Richard Linklater’s French-language film Nouvelle Vague, and Kelly Reichardt’s art heist drama The Mastermind, starring Josh O’Connor, John Magaro, and Alana Haim. Other notable entries competing for the Palme d’Or include Joachim Trier’s Renate Reinsve-led Sentimental Value, former Palme winner Julia Ducournau’s Alpha, and Oliver Hermanus’ The History Of Sound, a queer WWI-set romance starring Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor, for his second competition appearance.

As for any way-too-early Oscar predictions, THR notes that triumphant studio Neon is already representing two of the above films—Alpha and Sentimental Value—which will definitely be ones to watch.

The lineup also features a number of out of competition highlights. As previously confirmed, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning will have its world premiere on the Croisette. Other notable films include a Bono documentary from Blonde director Andrew Dominik, Eleanor the Great, Scarlett Johansson’s June Squibb-led directorial debut, and Urchin, written and directed by Babygirl‘s Harris Dickson.

French actor Juliette Binoche will head up the jury for what looks to be a very exciting competition. This year, Cannes will be held from May 13 through May 24. Get those clapping hands ready, and check out the full lineup, via THR, below:

COMPETITION

Alpha, Julie Ducournau
Dossier 137, Dominik Moll
The Eagles of the Republic, Tarik Saleh
Eddington, Ari Aster
Fuori, Mario Martone
The History of Sound, Oliver Hermanus
La Petite Derniere, Hafsia Herzi
The Mastermind, Kelly Reichardt
Nouvelle Vague, Richard Linklater
The Phoenician Scheme, Wes Anderson
Renoir, Chie Hayakawa
Romeria, Carla Simone
The Secret Agent, Kleber Mendonça Filho
Sentimental Value, Joachim Trier
A Simple Accident, Jafar Panahi
Sirat, Oliver Laxe
Sound of Falling, Mascha Schilinksi
Two Prosecutors, Sergei Loznitsa
Young Mothers, Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne