More Cannes Predictions as Intel Amps Up

You’ll notice that my Cannes predictions have slightly changed. This is set to be my before to last spitballing of the potential competition lineup.

Here’s what I’ve been hearing the last few weeks.

Miguel Gomes’ “Savagery” won’t be ready before 2024. He’s currently shooting a new film and after that he will resume shooting “Savagery” which was en halt.

As for Marco Bellocchio’s “La Conversione,” reshoots wrapped on February 1st, from my understanding, based on the few people I’ve spoken to, it’s probably not going to Cannes, unless Fremaux gives Bellocchio some kind of deadline extension and, even then, it might not even be ready.

There’s a lot of talk about Nanni Moretti’s “Il sol dell'avvenire” getting an out-of-competition Cannes slot, but my source is telling me it’s competition or bust for this film.

Then there’s Bruno Dumont’s ambitious sci-fi epic “L’Empire.” It’s not ready. The VFX on that film is taking a long time to complete and, despite his best efforts, I don’t think Dumont will make it.

You can also scratch off Cristi Puiu’s “MMXX,” and Radu Jude’s “Do Not Expect too Much” from your predictions. They both don’t seem to be “ready,” which can sometimes be code word for rejected.

Lisandro Alonso’s “Eureka” actually started shooting in late 2021 — post production seems to be taking forever. I’’m being told that the sound mixing will start next week and that the film has been shown to Thierry Fremaux and his selection committee

Wim Wenders is also said to have a new film ready to go and submitted for the festival. Although the aim for this untitled project is competition, I honestly don’t know if he has a shot. Wenders’ last great film was released in 1991.

I’m still holding out hope that Jonathan Glazer’s “Zone of Interest” makes it. The A24-produced film was screened for studio staff m on February 28th, which is a good sign, but we have no idea whether a completed work had been shown or if Glazer was going back to the editing room.

This is what I have so far as predictions for competition at the 76th Cannes Film Festival:

Wes Anderson’s “Asteroid City”
Yorgos Lanthimos’ “Poor Things”
Todd Haynes’ “May/December”
Jonathan Glazer’s The Zone of Interest
Michel Franco’s “Memory”
Robin Campillo’s “Red Island”
Catherine Breillat’s “Last Summer”
Abdherrane Sissako’s “The Perfumed Hill”
Alice Rohrwacher’s “La Chimera”
Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s “On Barren Weeds”
Ken Loach’s “The Old Oak”
Hirokazu Kore-eda’s “Monster”
Matteo Garrone’s “The Captain”
Nanni Moretti’s “Il sol dell'avvenire”
Jessica Hausner’s “Club Zero”
Victor Erice’s “Cerrar Los Ojos”
Bertrand Bonnello’s “The Beast”
Justine Triet’s “Anatomy of a Fall”
Jeff Nichols’ “The Bikeriders”
Richard Linklater’s “Hitman”
Maiwenn’s “Jeanne Du Barry”

The out of competition titles that I’m predicting include Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon,” Woody Allen’s “Coup de Chance,” and James Mangold’s “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.”

The entire lineup for the 76th Cannes Film Festival will be announced on April 13th.