Cannes 2019 Update — World of Reel

It’s not secret that Cannes and Netflix are trying to reach a deal in order for the streaming service to enter its films in the prestigious main competition of the festival. The latest proposal included a clause that would say if a Netflix film were to win an award at Cannes, then the streaming service would have to release that film in French theaters. Problematic, since Netflix is still uninterested in doing that.

Cannes already lost a major cinematic event last year when it was supposed to screen Alfonso Cuaron’s “Roma” but the higher-ups on the film board in France said “no way, Jose” not happening under our watch. Cannes head director Thierry Fremaux had raved about Cuaron’s film to the media, mentioning that he’d seen it a few times and seemed heartbroken that the fest would not screen the film. Now it’s the frontrunner to win Best Picture this Sunday night at the Oscars. Ouch.

In France there is a 36-month window law between a film being shown in theaters and then headed to streaming sites. THAT, in essence, is the main problem between the two parties in dispute. If this problem is not resolved soon then the Venice Film Festival, which has become Cannes’ bitter rival, will stand to benefit greatly again from the dispute.

For now, I’ve included 46 films rumored to head to the croisette this coming May. The list will be updated every few weeks, as rumors continuously come our way, in the meantime I have included Martin Scorsese’s “The Irishman,” which is a Netflix movie, but stands a chance of being a major Oscar contender come next Spring. This is all based on extensive research I have concocted, which included rumor sites and first-hand knowledge from sources.

Competition | Cannes 2019

Possibilites:

May el-Toukhy’s ‘Woman Unknown’ Wins the Golden Lion at Venice — Surprise!

The short version: "Woman Unknown" was a compromise. The jury deadlocked over "Possible Love" and "NAZA," not able to com to terms, fell back on their #3, May el-Toukhy's film.

Cory Finley's 'Reasonable People,' Starring Paul Rudd and Sam Rockwell, Shoots This Fall

Cory Finley, a talented filmmaker, has directed three films so far: "Thoroughbreds" (2017), "Bad Education” (2020), and "Landscape with Invisible Hand.”

Bassam Tariq Says Making ‘Blade' at Marvel Was ‘“a Different Thing”: “Somebody Else Is Running This”

Bassim Tariq was the first one in the chair. The "Mogul Mowgli" director spent two years building out the Mahershala Ali vehicle before exiting in 2022, and he's now letting the air out on this one.

‘The Family Stone’ Sequel Greenlit at Searchlight, Fall Shoot, Reunites the Entire Cast — Except Diane Keaton

Claire Danes, Rachel McAdams, Dermot Mulroney, Craig T. Nelson, Sarah Jessica Parker, Luke Wilson, Tyrone Giordano, Elizabeth Reaser, Paul Schneider, and Brian White will all be back.

Critics Are Fighting About ‘Fjord’ at TIFF; Sebastian Stan: “Not A MAGA Movie”

I was curious how Cristian Mungiu's "Fjord" would be received this fall. The Palme d'Or winner has become a culture-war flashpoint, and critics are more split on it than you might expect.

August 19, 2019

3-Hour ‘Midsommar' Director's Cut Screened in NYC

This year’s 12th edition of the Scary Movies festival at Film at Lincoln Center premiered Ari Aster’s extended version of “Midsommar” this past Saturday.

Joaquin Phoenix Reuniting with Mike Mills for Next Film, Shooting in January 2027

Phoenix is set to reunite with Mills on this next film, which is being distributed by A24 and starts shooting January 2027. This will be Phoenix’s first film since “Eddington.”

Paul Thomas Anderson Has Already Chosen His Next Film, Jonny Greenwood Says

“Paul is getting close to pressing the button on the next film, I believe, and I’m already trying to learn a new instrument that would be central to it,” Greenwood tells Screen Daily.

Ridley Scott Says “I Didn’t Say That” After Calling ‘The Dog Stars’ His Best Movie Since ‘The Martian’

In June 2026, Scott told The Buyer that “The Dog Stars” is “probably the best movie I’ve done since The Martian.” He’s now denying he ever said that.

Todd Field-Written ‘The Girls’ Sets Antoneta Alamat Kusijanovic to Direct, November Shoot

Cinephiles another Todd Field movie, and although we might have to wait for his next directorial effort, “The Girls” will have to suffice for now.

Fritz Lang’s ‘M’ Tops the Best Films of the 1930s, According to 100+ Critics

We’ve gone through the decades. The ‘40s ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s, ‘2000s, and ‘2010s. — all revisited, argued over. Now, here are the results for the best films of the 1930s.

Critics Poll: ‘Citizen Kane' Named Best Film of the 1940s

The results are in, and according to critics, this decade filled with cinematic riches did not have a better film than Orson Welles’ “Citizen Kane.” Nobody should be surprised by this result. “Citizen Kane” changed cinema forever.

Critics Poll: ‘Vertigo’ Named Best Film of the 1950s, Over 120 Participants

It was a closer race than anticipated, but Alfred Hitchcock’s “Vertigo” has topped our best of the ’50s poll, besting Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen’s “Singin’ in the Rain” by just two votes.

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