More Cannes intel. The lineup announcement is less than two days away, so I’ll be updating this site with whatever info I can get until the morning of April 9.
First off, there will be some extra U.S. presence in the lineup. Jordan Firstman (“Rotting in the Sun”) seemingly has his feature debut, titled “Club Kid,” selected for the Un Certain Regard sidebar. The film, which stars Cara Delevingne, Diego Calva, and Alaina Surgener, is set in New York City and follows a washed-up underground party promoter whose life takes an unexpected turn when he’s forced to look after a son that he never knew he had.
I’m hearing very interesting things about Charline Bourgeois-Tacquet’s “La Vie d’Une Femme,” which I’m told has an official competition spot. The film, which stars Léa Drucker and Mélanie Thierry, has greatly impressed the selection committee and is a major frontrunner to be one of the three or four French films selected to compete for the Palme d’Or.
Furthermore, I’m sure you’ve seen Léa Mysius singled out in many Cannes predictions lists. Well, her film “Histoires de la Nuit” has been offered a spot in Un Certain Regard, which has not pleased her one bit. It’s competition or bust for Mysius; otherwise, she’s threatening to bring the film to Venice, which has shown interest in it.
Then we have another French filmmaker: Quentin Dupieux, known for his goofy yet delightful comedies, whose film “Full Phil” was adored by the selection committee—so much so that he has a real shot at cracking competition. However, unlike Mysius, I’m told Dupieux would rather screen the film as a Midnight screening because it’s “more fun.” You gotta love it. I’m sure his producer, Hugo Sélignac, is biting his nails at the moment—none of the films he’s produced have ever vied for the Palme d’Or.
Furthermore, Pawel Pawlikowski has not only finished editing “Fatherland/1949,” but it was submitted a few days ago—and not just that, it’s now locked for competition. I’m told that around 11 titles have been confirmed so far, with another eight or nine still needed to complete the selection.
More to come…