When is the Cannes Film Festival 2019?
In 2019, the Cannes Film Festival will take place from 14-25 May. One of the most glamorous events on the entertainment calendar, the biggest names in world cinema will once again congregate in the south of France for the 72nd edition of the Cannes Film Festival 2019. What do you need to know about this year’s 11-day event? Let’s take a look.
Who is on the panel of judges ("Le Jury") in 2019?
Mexican director Alejandro González Iñárritu has been confirmed as President of the Jury for the 72nd Cannes Film Festival. González Iñárritu is famous for directing films such as The Revenant, Biutiful, Birdman, Babel and 21 Grams. He succeeds Cate Blanchett, who was Jury President during the 71st Festival de Cannes. Her jury awarded the prestigious Palme d’Or to the movie Shoplifters by Japanese director Kore-eda Hirokazu. The remaining members of the 2019 Cannes Festival jury are: U.S. actress Elle Fanning, who had a starring role in Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu’s Babel; actress and director Mamouna N’Diaye from Burkina Faso, known for her documentaries on events in the Ivory Coast; U.S. director Kelly Reichardt, who directed the film Wendy and Lucy, starring Michelle Williams; Italian director Alice Rohrwacher, whose films The Wonders (appearing at Cannes in 2014) and Happy As Lazzaro have received critical acclaim; French graphic novel author Enki Bilal; French director Robin Campillo; Greek Director Yorgos Lanthimos, whose film The Favourite won big at the 2019 Oscars; and Polish director Pawel Pawlikowski, who received the Best Director award at Cannes last year for his film Cold War.
Alejandro González Iñárritu will be the Jury President at Cannes Film Festival 2019
Lebanese filmmaker Nadine Labaki will be president of the Un Certain Regard jury in 2019. This is a subsection of the festival's official selection and looks at films with alternative visions and styles that tell their stories in non-traditional ways.
Nadine Lekaki at the Cannes Film Festival 2018 with cast members of the film Capernaum. Photo: George Biard
Which film Will open the festival in 2019?
The ensemble zombie comedy film, The Dead Don't Die, by American director Jim Jarmusch, will be the opening film of this year's film festival. It has an all-star cast that includes Bill Murray, Adam Driver, Tilda Swinton, Chloë Sevigny, Steve Buscemi and Selena Gomez.
The official selection at Cannes film festival 2019
This is the official selection of films up for the Palme d'Or this year. The director's name is in brackets next to the film title, which in some cases has been translated to English.
Atlantique (Mati Diop) - France, Senegal
Bacurau (Kleber Mendonça Filho, Juliano Dornelles) - Brazil
The Dead Don't Die (opening film - Jim Jarmusch) - United States
Frankie (Ira Sachs) - United States, France, Portugal, Belgium
A Hidden Life (Terrence Malick) - United States, Germany
It Must Be Heaven (Elia Suleiman) - France, Canada
Little Joe (Jessica Hausner) - Austria, Germany, United Kingdom
Matthias & Maxime (Xavier Dolan) - Canada
Oh Mercy! (Arnaud Desplechin) - France
Les Misérables (Ladj Ly) - France
Pain and Glory (Pedro Almodóvar) - Spain
Parasite (Bong Joon-ho) - South Korea
Portrait of a Lady on Fire (Céline Sciamma) - France
Sibyl (Justine Triet) - France
Sorry We Missed You (Ken Loach) - United Kingdom
The Traitor (Marco Bellocchio) - Italy
The Whistlers (Corneliu Porumboiu) - Romania, France, Germany
The Wild Goose Lake (Diao Yinan) - China
The Young Ahmed (Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne) - Belgium
Which films are the favorites to win the Palme D'OR?
This is Pedro Almodovar's 6th film to be entered into the official selection at Cannes Film Festival. He has previously won prizes for Best Director (All about my mother) and Best Screenplay (Volver). Will Pain and Glory win the Palme d'Or in 2019? On the other hand, The Dead Don't Die will be Jim Jarmusch's eighth film in competition since his debut in 1986. With an excellent and diverse cast and as the opening film, surely it has to be one of the favorites? Either way, both of these films will face fierce competition from Ken Loach's Sorry We Missed You, his 14th film to be entered into the competition. The British filmmaker has already won the Palme d’Or twice for his films The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006) and (I, Daniel Blake) in 2016.
We will keep an eye on the entertainment news and let you know what the pundits are saying!
where are the after parties in Cannes this year?
The Cannes Film Festival after parties are some of the most fabulous events of the year. Watch this space for confirmation about this year's parties - we'll keep an eye on the hottest spots for celebrity-spotting!
Parties by the famous Hotel Martinez in the Croisette Boulevard in Cannes
How can I enjoy the film festival?
Even if you're not a holder of one of the film festival's coveted film passes, you can still indulge in your love of world cinema during your stay in Cannes. Head down to the free open-air cinema at the Plage Mace, which shows classic films every evening for the duration of the festival. The best thing is, it's free! Just show up early and grab a deckchair - you won't need a ticket. You can also become a Cannes Cinephile and enjoy a film showing at one of the four movie theaters in Cannes - also free! Grab your tickets from the Cannes Cinephiles' tent on the Pantiero any time between 9.00 and 17.30.
Best things to do in Cannes
Beyond the festival, here are some of the top things to do in Cannes:
- Take a stroll along the chic La Croissette promenade by the beach.
- Relax on one of the quieter public beaches in Cannes, at Palm Beach or Plage du Midi.
- Escape the city and enjoy a hike and a picnic in La Croix-des-Gardes park.
- Gaze in awe at the huge yachts that arrive at Cannes' Old Port.
- Step back in time and explore Le Suquet the oldest part of Cannes.
- Sail away to the tranquility of the Lerins Islands.
- Head for the hills and enjoy the art and culture of the sleepy village of Mougins.
The French Riviera with France Just For You
For travelers who would like to enjoy the glitz and glamor of the Cannes Film Festival or the Monaco Grand Prix, we suggest that you book as early as you can. It is a good idea to book at least nine months in advance so that flights are available and we will be able to book you into our favorite B&Bs on the French Riviera.
Whether you want to be where the action is (in Cannes or in Nice by the beach) or whether you would rather stay in a quieter setting, we will be happy to plan the vacations of YOUR dreams.
The French Riviera dramatic landscapes - ©CRT Cote d'Azur
