Cannes 2025: Films In Competition Spotlight New and Returning Visionaries

The 78th Festival de Cannes unveils a compelling In Competition lineup, showcasing a vibrant mix of cinema’s most daring voices. From established auteurs to breakout talents, the 2025 Official Selection confirms the festival’s role as a barometer of global film artistry.

Among the returning titans is Wes Anderson with The Phoenician Scheme, and Ari Aster, whose Eddington promises psychological intrigue. Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne return with Jeunes Mères, continuing their deep humanistic tradition, while Julia Ducournau (Titane) brings Alpha, expected to blend bodily horror with emotional intensity.

The Competition also welcomes Oliver Hermanus (The History of Sound), Kelly Reichardt (The Mastermind), Jafar Panahi (It Was Just an Accident), and Lynne Ramsay with Die My Love — based on Ariana Harwicz’s explosive novel.

New cinematic landscapes are explored in Kuang Ye Shi Dai (Resurrection) by BI Gan, Sirat by Oliver Laxe, and Zan o Bacheh (Woman and Child) by Saeed Roustaee. Debut standout Hayakawa Chie enters with Renoir, while Cannes darling Richard Linklater returns with Nouvelle Vague (New Wave), a meta-homage to film history itself.

This year’s selection spans continents and genres, from Tarik Saleh’s political drama Eagles of the Republic, to Mascha Schilinski’s meditative Sound of Falling, and Joachim Trier’s intimate Affeksjonsverdi (Sentimental Value).

The selection is dedicated to the memory of Émilie Dequenne, who won Best Actress in 1999 for Rosetta, which also took the Palme d’or. Her legacy echoes in a lineup that celebrates bold, human-centered storytelling.