One of the most prestigious, star-studded events of the year is now underway! Now in its 75th year, the Festival de Cannes is a huge deal for anyone and everyone involved in the film industry. One question surely on everyone’s mind is, which movie from the ‘In Competition’ category will win the coveted Palme d’Or?
Well, we’ll have to wait until 28 May before we find out, as this is when most of the awards will be announced. In the meantime, long days of screenings lie ahead. Having checked out the Official Selection, which includes nine categories, including ‘In Competition’, we think the following films will have you reaching for the popcorn…
1. Top Gun: Maverick
Showing as part of the ‘Out of Competition’ selection, Tom Cruise is back where he belongs as Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell. After 30-odd years of service as a Navy aviator, Maverick is called upon to train a new generation of Top Gun (hothead) graduates for a specialised bombing mission. Brace yourself for a thrilling ride! Directed by Joseph Kosinski – watch the trailer.
2. Elvis
From Oscar-nominated filmmaker Baz Luhrmann comes an epic, cinematic drama based on the life and career of Elvis Presley. Also listed as ‘Out of Competition’, this movie stars Austin Butler as Elvis and Tom Hanks as his manager, Colonel Tom Parker. Presley’s story is told through his manager’s eyes and recounts his rise to stardom over the course of 20 years. Packed full of hip-swivelling, leg-shaking performances, this one is a real treat for fans of ‘The King’. Preview Elvis here.
3. Crimes of the Future
Directed by David Cronenberg, Crimes of the Future is a body horror film set in the future where people must adapt to transhumanism (the idea of the human race evolving beyond its physical and mental limitations). Viggo Mortensen takes the lead role as a performance artist whose organs undergo metamorphosis. Not one for the faint-hearted, but it is one that’s competing for the Palme d’Or! Also starring Kristen Stewart and Léa Seydoux. Here’s what to expect.
4. Three Thousand Years of Longing
Idris Elba and Tilda Swinton lead the cast in this fantasy drama, directed by George Miller and showing in the ‘Out of Competition’ category. The plot revolves around an encounter between scholar Dr Alithea Binnie (Swinton) and a Djinn (Elba) who offers her three wishes in exchange for his freedom. After the Djinn convinces Alithea that he’s real, she makes a wish that surprises them both. Read more about this film.
5. Corsage
Corsage is a European film premiering in the ‘Un Certain Regard’ category (which celebrates non-traditional films with various styles). Vicky Krieps plays Austrian monarch Empress Elisabeth (known as Sissi’), who is renowned for her beauty and inspired fashion sense. In 1877, after turning 40 and seeing her role reduced to purely ceremonial duties, she battles to maintain her public image and comes up with a plan to protect her legacy. See the trailer.
6. Armageddon Time
Also competing for the top prize is a deeply personal coming-of-age tale, set in the 1980s, exploring the strength of family and the pursuit of the American Dream. Directed by James Gray, this film features a stellar cast, including the legendary Anthony Hopkins, Anne Hathaway and Jeremy Strong. Learn more.
7. The Silent Twins
If you love films based on true stories, look out for The Silent Twins, an astounding true-life tale – already covered in documentaries – about twin sisters who would only communicate with each other. This complex tale from Polish filmmaker Agnieszka Smoczynska explores the Gibbon twin’s insular and fascinating world, which they created to escape their real-life reality. Starring Letitia Wright and Tamara Lawrance and premiering in the ‘Un Certain Regard’ section. Here’s more info.
8. Stars at Noon
From great French director Claire Denis comes a thriller/romance adapted from the 1986 novel of the same name by Denis Johnson. The plot follows a stranded American journalist (Margaret Qualley) in 1984 Nicaragua, who strikes up a romance with a mysterious English businessman (Joe Alwyn). The pair find themselves mixed up in a dangerous web of lies and espionage that leaves them fleeing the country. Stars at Noon is part of the ‘In Competition’ section – find out more.
For more trailers and clips from the Official Selection at Cannes 2022, click here. You can also watch live coverage of the festival on YouTube.
Love film? Check out eight brilliant films to watch from the Sundance Festival 2022. If you’re a budding filmmaker, we’ve curated a range of enlightening podcasts that’ll give you tons of insights and tips on making it in the movie industry. Finally, check out our Knowledge section for learning resources relating to media and entertainment.