Cannes 2025 Unveils Short Films and La Cinef Selections, Maren Ade to Lead Jury
- Kris Meester
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
The 78th Festival de Cannes has announced the Short Film Competition and La Cinef Selection, highlighting emerging cinematic voices from across the globe. German filmmaker Maren Ade, acclaimed for her masterful Toni Erdmann, will preside over the Short Films and La Cinef Jury, joined by an international panel of creatives from diverse disciplines.
Joining Ade on the jury are American director Reinaldo Marcus Green (King Richard), French actress and singer Camélia Jordana, Spanish producer and film historian José María Prado Garcia, and Croatian director Nebojša Slijepčević.
Short Film Competition: 11 Films, 5 Women Directors
Selected from an astounding 4,781 submissions, the 11 short films competing for the Short Film Palme d’or span genres and styles, with nine fiction works and two animations. Notably, nearly half are directed by women, reflecting the Festival's growing commitment to diversity.
Standouts include:
Arguments in Favor of Love by Gabriel Abrantes – a satirical short laced with philosophical charm.
Ali by Adnan Al Rajeev – exploring personal stakes in politically charged territory.
I’m Glad You’re Dead Now by Tawfeek Barhom – a provocative look at grief and guilt.
Fille de l’Eau by Sandra Desmazières and Hypersensitive by Martine Frossard, showcasing animation’s emotional and aesthetic power.
Aasvoëls (Vultures) by Dian Weys, representing South Africa with a haunting parable of survival.
The Short Film Palme d’or will be awarded during the Festival’s closing ceremony on May 24.
La Cinef: Student Visions from 5 Continents
La Cinef, Cannes’ dedicated platform for student filmmakers, reveals a bold lineup of 16 short films selected from 2,700 submissions worldwide, including entries from schools participating for the first time. Estonia, Portugal, and Denmark debut in the selection through institutions such as the Estonian Academy of Arts, Escola das Artes – UCP, and Super16.
Highlights include:
First Summer by Heo Gayoung (KAFA, South Korea), a 30-minute meditation on adolescence and memory.
Ginger Boy (Separated) by Miki Tanaka (Japan), the longest entry at 48 minutes, exploring family estrangement.
The Bird from Within by Laura Anahory (Portugal), a 5-minute minimalist reflection.
Talk Me by Joecar Hanna (NYU, USA), blending intimacy and communication in a digitally mediated world.
My Grandmother is a Skydiver by Polina Piddubna (Germany), a whimsical yet touching narrative of generational connection.
The La Cinef prizes will be awarded in a ceremony on May 22 in the Buñuel Theatre, followed by a screening of the winning films.
Together, these selections reinforce Cannes’ role as a champion of new talent and a global platform for stories that challenge, provoke, and inspire — from the bold voices of tomorrow to the emerging auteurs of today.
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