Cannes 2025 Lineup: Confirmations and Predictions [Updated]
What We Already Know and What’s Still Just Rumors
As Cannes 2025 approaches, predictions for the lineup are already making waves in some film blogs and outlets. While some films have been confirmed, others are still in the rumor mill. Here’s a rundown of what we can confidently expect in the lineup and what remains speculative.
What’s already confirmed (kind of)
Although these films have been confirmed through various industry sources, the lineup can still change, as the official selection is yet to be finalized. The full lineup will be announced in mid April.
#1 The Doctor Says I'll Be Alright But I'm Feelin’ Blue by Mascha Schilinski
This film was initially confirmed for a competition slot at Berlinale 2025 but was pulled last minute. It was later revealed that the film was invited to the Un Certain Regard section of Cannes 2025, with rumors swirling that it could now be upgraded to the main competition lineup. Rumours says that French distributor mk2 acquired the rights of the film and is working hard on generating buzz for the film.
Directed by German filmmaker Mascha Schilinski, follows the life of four girls from different generations and was already described as a surrealist version The Virgin Suicides. It explores themes of male gaze, mental health, and emotional vulnerability.
#2 Nouvelle Vague by Richard Linklater
Richard Linklater’s Nouvelle Vague is one of the most anticipated films of 2025. Set in the 1960s, the film explores the iconic French New Wave and its impact on cinema and culture. It is expected to explore themes of artistic rebellion and the evolution of filmmaking. After screening his last film Blue Moon at Berlinale 2025, Linklater is rumored to have confirmed Nouvelle Vague as part of the Cannes competition lineup.
#3 Die, My Love by Lynne Ramsay
Lynne Ramsay’s new film, Die, My Love, has been confirmed by multiple sources, including IndieWire, to be in competition for Cannes 2025. This psychological thriller with Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson centers on a woman unraveling the mystery behind her husband’s disappearance and grappling with her own mental instability.
Ramsay has previously competed at Cannes with We Need to Talk About Kevin and You Were Never Really Here, making her one of the festival’s most reliable filmmakers in terms of quality and impact.
#4 Young Mother by Jean-Pierre & Luc Dardenne
Much like Hong Sang-soo is to Berlinale, Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne are practically synonymous with Cannes. Their upcoming film Young Mother is expected to continue their exploration of social issues, focusing on the dynamics between young mothers and the generational challenges they face.
Sources have confirmed that Young Mother will be part of the competition lineup for Cannes 2025. Given the Dardennes' longstanding relationship with the festival, it’s no surprise that this film will be a major contender.
#5 The Disappearance of Joseph Mengele by Kirill Serebrennikov
Kirill Serebrennikov has become a familiar name in Cannes competition, with films like Tchaikovsky's Wife and Petrov's Flu gaining attention in recent years. His new film Disappearance is a psychological drama about the Nazi doctor Josef Mengele, who escaped Germany to South America after World War II and was never captured. Though Disappearance is still under wraps, industry sources indicate that it is likely to be one of the first films confirmed for the competition, with whispers circulating since the end of 2024. If confirmed, Serebrennikov’s film will continue his streak of high-profile Cannes selections.
#6 Alpha by Julia Ducournau
The French director behind Palm D’Or winner Titane (2021), brings Alpha, a drama set in the 1980s in Le Havre, where a girl is ostracized after rumors of a strange illness spread. Recently acquired by NEON, this highly anticipated film has a strong shot at Cannes, thanks to Ducournau's recent high credentials.
The film is one of the first French titles confirmed for Cannes 2025, and Ducournau’s reputation for pushing boundaries ensures that Alpha will be a major contender for this year’s competition.
#7 Father, Mother, Sister, Brother – Jim Jarmusch
Jarmusch’s latest anthology film explores family and intergenerational dynamics through three stories in different countries, starring Cate Blanchett, Adam Driver, and others. Quietly observational with threads of melancholy, this Cannes-appropriate work could very well earn a coveted spot in the lineup. Also confirmed on the same report from Variety.
Predictions: What We’re Likely to See at Cannes 2025
Based on recent articles published by IndieWire and The Hollywood Reporter, here are some of the most likely films to make the cut for Cannes 2025 lineup:
1. Bugonia – Yorgos LanthimosBugonia is described as a science-fiction comedy, but it’s still unfinished. Given the director’s previous Cannes success with The Favourite, and last year’s Kinds of Kindness, there’s every chance this quirky project will make its way to the Croisette—if Lanthimos can get it over the finish line in time.Update: According to a new report from Variety’s Elsa Keslassy, Bugonia is 100% not to be premiering at Cannes in May. Bummer.
2. Secret Agent – Kleber Mendonça Filho
A political thriller set against the backdrop of 1970s Brazil’s military dictatorship, Secret Agent brings Kleber Mendonça Filho back to Recife, starring Wagner Moura. Given Filho’s established reputation with Aquarius and Bacurau, both in previous competitions slots at Cannes, it is very likely the film will be at the croissete in May.
3. The Chronology of Water – Kristen Stewart
Stewart’s directorial debut adapts Lidia Yuknavitch’s memoir, telling the story of a woman who turns trauma into art. With Imogen Poots in the lead, the film’s exploration of personal transformation is a potential Cannes contender, especially given the festival’s growing interest in female-driven narratives.
Update: Mauricio Ribeiro from SpoilerMovies suggests the film might be in Un Certain Regard.
4. Dracula: A Love Tale – Luc Besson
Despite the ongoing scandals surrounding Besson, Cannes has never shied away from supporting filmmakers with questionable reputations. Dracula: A Love Tale could still make it, given the festival’s openness to bold, genre-redefining projects and Besson’s past successes.
5. Eddington – Ari Aster
Ari Aster’s Eddington is a star-packed drama with Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Emma Stone, and Austin Butler. The film, about a small-town sheriff with grand aspirations, promises stylistic verve and emotional intensity—elements Cannes is likely to reward. It could be Aster’s breakthrough in competition.
6. Highest 2 Lowest – Spike Lee
Spike Lee returns with Highest 2 Lowest, his first narrative feature in five years and his first film with Denzel Washington since Inside Man. A crime thriller set in New York, it’s also a reinterpretation of Kurosawa’s High and Low, blending timely social commentary with classic noir elements.
7. The History of Sound – Oliver Hermanus
Following the acclaim of Skoonheid (Beauty), which premiered in Un Certain Regard and made history as the first Afrikaans-language film at Cannes, Hermanus’s new film The History of Sound follows two young men who fall in love while recording the voices of soldiers during World War I. With the weight of its historical and romantic elements, this could very well draw attention at Cannes, especially given its sensitive exploration of male intimacy.
8. I Want Your Sex – Gregg Araki
Araki’s latest film, starring Cooper Hoffman as a young assistant to an avant-garde performance artist (played by Olivia Wilde), explores power, obsession, and betrayal in the world of sex. With its dark, provocative premise and Araki’s signature style, this one’s a strong bet for the Cannes lineup—though it’ll likely stir up plenty of controversy.
9. Altered States – Trey Edward Shults
With Robert Pattinson leading a gripping tale, Altered States explores the mind’s darkest corners in typical Shults fashion. Expect atmospheric intensity and a cerebral edge, making it a contender for Cannes 2025 if it maintains its stark emotional depth.
Thanks for putting all that together. Great read!