Cannes 2025: 10 standout films from around the world you need to know about

1. Sentimental Value, directed by Joachim Trier: The sixth feature film by Norwegian director Joachim Trier, co-written with longtime collaborator Eskil Vogt, Sentimental Value is premiering in competition at the Cannes. The film reunites Trier with Renate Reinsve, who stars as Nora, a stage actress confronting her estranged father, Gustav (Stellan Skarsgård), a once-renowned filmmaker. Following the death of Nora’s mother, Gustav re-enters his daughters’ lives, proposing a new film project with Nora in the lead role. When she declines, he casts a Hollywood actress, Rachel Kemp (Elle Fanning), in the part, intensifying the tension in the family.

Set against the backdrop of Oslo and incorporating a film-within-a-film structure, Sentimental Value explores generational shifts in cinema and the interplay between personal history and artistic expression — a continuation of Trier’s exploration of intimate human relationships. MUBI has acquired distribution rights for the UK, Ireland, Latin America, Turkey, and India, with theatrical release plans forthcoming.

2. Alpha, directed by Julia Ducournau: A French drama centred on adolescence and trauma, Alpha premiered at the Cannes — it’s competing for the Palme d’Or — on May 19. The film revolves around on Alpha, a 13-year-old girl portrayed by Mélissa Boros, who lives with her single mother (Golshifteh Farahani). Their lives are disrupted when Alpha returns home with a mysterious tattoo, which triggers a series of events that mirror the social panic of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s and 1990s.

The film employs body horror elements, depicting a fictional disease that turns people into marble-like statues, which serves as a metaphor for the stigmatisation and fear associated with illness. Tahar Rahim co-stars as Amin, Alpha’s uncle, whose character grapples with addiction and illness. The film’s production took place in Le Havre and Paris, with Ducournau reuniting with cinematographer Ruben Impens and editor Jean-Christophe Bouzy, collaborators from her previous films Raw and Titane. It is scheduled for theatrical release in France on August 20, 2025, with a limited US release planned for October 2025.

3. Sound of Falling (German title: In die Sonne schauen), directed by Mascha Schilinski: A German drama directed by Mascha Schilinski and co-written with Louise Peter, the film had its world premiere in competition at the Cannes on May 14, marking the first time since 2016 that a German female filmmaker competed for the Palme d’Or. Spanning over a century, the film follows four young women — Alma, Erika, Angelika, and Lenka —who inhabit the same farmhouse in the Altmark region of northern Germany during different historical periods: around 1910, post-World War II, 1980s East Germany, and the present day.

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Their lives, though separated by time, are subtly interconnected, reflecting recurring themes of trauma, memory, and the female experience. The film is noted for its square aspect ratio and analogue aesthetic; it incorporates archival photographs to evoke a sense of timelessness. Cinematographer Fabian Gamper and editor Evelyn Rack contribute to the film’s haunting visual and narrative style. The sound design, led by Billie Mind, further enhances the film’s atmospheric brilliance. The film is scheduled for theatrical release in Germany by Neue Visionen on September 11.

4. It Was Just an Accident, directed by Jafar Panahi: An Iranian-French-Luxembourgian drama-thriller that premiered in competition at the Cannes on May 20, It Was Just An Accident marks Panahi’s return to Cannes after a seven-year absence, following his 2022 release from prison. The film, produced without official permission from Iranian authorities, continues Panahi’s tradition of clandestine filmmaking in defiance of state-imposed bans. The film begins with a seemingly minor incident: a man named Eghbal (played by Ebrahim Azizi) accidentally hits a dog while driving at night with his pregnant wife and young daughter. This event triggers a chain of surreal and unsettling encounters, including a visit to a garage owned by Vahid (Vahid Mobasseri), who recognises Eghbal as his former prison torturer.

As the story unfolds, it delves into themes of state violence, corruption, and the lingering trauma experienced by people under oppressive regimes. The film employs elements of black comedy, satire, and horror-farce to critique Iran’s corrupt institutions, highlighting issues such as bribery and manipulated justice. The film reflects the psychological and social toll of living under tyranny.

At its Cannes premiere, It Was Just an Accident received an eight-minute standing ovation. Panahi, attending the festival for the first time in over two decades, delivered an emotional speech dedicating the film to fellow Iranian filmmakers, particularly women, who continue to face persecution for their activism. He expressed his internal conflict over enjoying newfound freedoms while others remain imprisoned. The film is scheduled for theatrical release in France on September 10 under the title Un simple accident.

5. Nouvelle Vague, directed by Richard Linklater: A French-language comedy-drama that pays tribute to the revolutionary spirit of the French New Wave, Nouvelle Vague premiered at the Cannes on May 17. It offers a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Jean-Luc Godard’s 1960 classic Breathless. Shot in black and white with a 4:3 aspect ratio, it authentically captures the aesthetic of the era.

Guillaume Marbeck portrays a young, impulsive Godard, while Zoey Deutch plays Jean Seberg, whose skepticism adds depth to the narrative. The cast also includes Aubry Dullin as Jean-Paul Belmondo and features portrayals of cinematic icons like François Truffaut, Claude Chabrol, and Agnès Varda. Rather than a conventional biopic, Nouvelle Vague is a character-driven “hangout” film that embraces the youthful energy and creative chaos of 1959 Paris filmmaking. The film is scheduled for a limited theatrical release in France on October 8.

6. Resurrection (Kuang Ye Shi Dai), directed by Bi Gan: A Chinese-French science fiction detective film written and directed by Bi Gan, the film stars Jackson Yee and Shu Qi, and is set to premiere in competition at the Cannes on May 22. Set in a future where most of humanity has lost the ability to dream, the story follows a woman who discovers a creature still capable of dreaming. She enters the creature’s dreams, using her unique ability to perceive illusions to uncover truths hidden within.

The film’s production involved multiple phases of principal photography, beginning in April 2024 and concluding in April 2025, with locations including Chongqing and Copenhagen. The cinematography is by Dong Jingsong, and the music is composed by M83. The film is produced by Huace Pictures, Dangmai Films, CG Cinema, Arte France Cinéma, and Obluda Films, with distribution in France by Les Films du Losange. It is expected to be theatrically released in China in the second half of 2025 or early 2026.

7. The History of Sound, directed by Oliver Hermanus: A historical romantic drama, The History of Sound premiers on May 21 in the Palme d’Or section. Adapted from Ben Shattuck’s short story, the film stars Paul Mescal as Lionel and Josh O'Connor as David, two young men who, in the aftermath of World War I, embark on a journey across rural New England to record the voices and folk songs of their fellow Americans. Their shared mission evolves into a profound romantic connection, explored through Lionel’s reflective narration by Chris Cooper.

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Hermanus, known for Living and Moffie, co-wrote the screenplay with Shattuck during the COVID-19 lockdown. The film distinguishes itself by portraying a same-sex relationship without focusing on social stigma, underlining emotional depth and mutual companionship. Music plays a central role, with Mescal and O’Connor performing folk songs in the film.

8. The Phoenician Scheme by Wes Anderson: Wes Anderson’s twelfth feature film, co-written with Roman Coppola, The Phoenician Scheme premiered at the Cannes on May 18, and is scheduled for a limited US release on May 30, with a wider release on June 6. Set in the 1950s, the film follows Anatole ‘Zsa-zsa’ Korda (Benicio del Toro), a wealthy and enigmatic industrialist facing threats to his empire. He appoints his estranged daughter, Sister Liesl (Mia Threapleton), a nun-in-training, as his heir.

Accompanied by her tutor, Bjorn (Michael Cera), they embark on a global journey to secure the family’s future, encountering a host of eccentric characters along the way. The cast includes Tom Hanks, Scarlett Johansson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Riz Ahmed, and others. The film features Anderson’s signature visual style, with symmetrical compositions and a pastel colour palette, but adopts a more sombre and restrained tone compared to his earlier works.

9. Sirat, directed by Oliver Laxe: A Spanish-French drama, Sirat premiered in competition at the Cannes on May 15. The film follows Luis (Sergi López), who, accompanied by his young son Esteban (Bruno Núñez Arjona), ventures into the Moroccan desert in search of his missing daughter, Marina, who vanished during a rave months earlier. Their journey evolves into a hallucinatory odyssey through sound, sand, and spiritual reckoning.

The title Sirât references the bridge in Islamic tradition that separates hell from paradise, which symbolises the film’s exploration of moral and existential thresholds. Co-written with Santiago Fillol, it blends elements of road movie, western, and spiritual allegory, which has led to many draw comparisons to films like Mad Max and Sorcerer. Shot on Super 16mm by Mauro Herce, the film features a hypnotic techno-infused score by Kangding Ray. Jessica Kiang of Variety described it as a ‘brilliantly bizarre, cult-ready vision of human psychology tested to its limits.’ The film is scheduled for theatrical release in Spain on June 6, and in France on September 3.

10. Eleanor the Great, directed by Scarlett Johansson: The directorial debut of actor Scarlett Johansson, Eleanor the Great premiered in the Un Certain Regard section on May 20. The film stars June Squibb as Eleanor Morgenstein, a 94-year-old widow who, after the death of her best friend Bessie (Rita Zohar), moves from Florida to New York City seeking a fresh start. Struggling to find companionship, Eleanor attends a Holocaust survivor support group, sharing stories she heard from Bessie, despite not being a survivor herself. This deception leads to complex emotional developments that dwell on grief, identity, and the human need for connection. The cast includes Chiwetel Ejiofor, Jessica Hecht, Erin Kellyman, and Will Price. The screenplay, adapted by Tory Kamen from her own novel, is brought to life by cinematographer Hélène Louvart and composer Dustin O’Halloran.