Neon isn’t just having a strong Cannes — they’re practically running the place, and collecting Palme d’Or contenders like infinity stones.
The distributor has picked up North American rights to Oliver Laxe’s “Sirât,” fresh off its acclaimed premiere on the Croisette. That makes three high-profile acquisitions for Neon this year alone, following Kleber Mendonça Filho’s “The Secret Agent” and Jafar Panahi’s “It Was Just an Accident,” both competing for the Palme d’Or.
Sirât continues the Spanish filmmaker’s deep dive into mysticism and the human psyche — this time set against the thumping pulse of a Moroccan rave. Sergi López stars as a father searching for his missing daughter, alongside Bruno Núñez, Stefania Gadda, and Jade Oukid. The film is produced by none other than Pedro Almodóvar and his El Deseo banner.
“Sirat,” for my money, was the best film in competition. A bomb of creative cinema, it doesn’t so much play by the rules as it tears them up, offering a formally bold, emotionally charged vision that left some stunned and others shake
This pickup only adds to Neon’s ever-growing dominance at Cannes. The distributor has now released the last five Palme d’Or winners — including this year’s “Anora,” which just won the Oscar for Best Picture. Could they make it six in a row? We’ll find out Saturday night when the jury announces the 2024 prize winners.