Festivals are a vital piece of film culture and are thrilling for anyone that follows new releases. They provide a communal experience for filmmakers, journalists and people in the industry to gather from all over the world and view a diverse selection of motion pictures before they are released to the general public. Every year there are films that attract excitement and attention far before their theatrical release. This is helpful whether you are a young director, veteran auteur, studio executive or anyone that is involved in the production process.
One of the most prestigious festivals in the world, the Cannes Film Festival, is rapidly approaching. It is set to take place from Jul. 6 to Jul. 17 in France. This will be the 74th edition of the festival and it is almost guaranteed that there will be many memorable projects premiering. Last year, Cannes was canceled due to COVID-19, but the previous year, it debuted some of the best films of 2019: “The Lighthouse, ”, “Once Upon a Time…In Hollywood” and Bong Joon-Ho’s eventual Academy Award Best Picture winner, “Parasite.” In a year filled with countless great releases, these were among the most memorable!
While the full selection of films for this year’s festival has not yet been announced, a couple of high-profile releases have been confirmed to be making their debut. According to the Cannes website, “Annette” directed by Leos Carax and starring Adam Driver is going to be opening the festival. Driver has been on an incredible run over the past decade, which will almost certainly continue with this film as well as with his prominent role in “House of Gucci,” which is scheduled for release later in the year. He has taken on challenging roles throughout his career, has worked with some of the best directors ever and has showcased his acting range by starring in successful independent and blockbuster films. As such, “Annette” looks to be a strong way to start off the festival and will hopefully get a wider release later in the year.
Another notable film that will be appearing at this year’s Cannes is from one of the most distinctive filmmakers working today. According to Deadline.com, “The French Dispatch” by Wes Anderson will be making its long-awaited debut over the course of the twelve-day festival. The project was supposed to debut in 2020, but it will finally be seeing the light of day this upcoming July. Anderson is well known for his unique stories and incessant use of symmetry and bright colors in his work. Like almost all of Anderson’s films “The French Dispatch” has an incredibly talented cast that features Timothée Chalamet, Saoirse Ronan, Bill Murray, Benecio del Toro, Frances McDormand and Willem Dafoe. Cannes 2021 already has a lot to offer, we can look forward to the releases of “Annette” and “The French Dispatch” the performances of which are likely to be among the best of the year, likely earning the chance to be notable contenders during next year’s awards season.