Early Predictions for the Cannes Film Festival: Farhadi, Almodóvar, and Malick Again
According to the CinemaDrame News Agency, films heading to this year’s Cannes have emerged more slowly compared to previous years. The 79th edition of the festival will be held in nearly three months, yet aside from Bitter Christmas by Pedro Almodóvar — whose poster has been unveiled and which is set for release in Spanish cinemas in March — few details have surfaced about other potential titles.
Ruben Östlund, a Palme d’Or winner, recently claimed that The Entertainment System Is Down may premiere at Cannes in 2027. However, it seems unlikely he would require another full year to edit a film whose production wrapped in April 2025.
Another long-anticipated contender for this edition — and indeed for several previous ones — is The Way of the Wind, directed by Terrence Malick and starring Leila Hatami. After years of waiting, Malick has reportedly reached a 3.5-hour cut, though the possibility remains that the film will not be ready in time for this year’s festival. All of a Sudden, directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi, and Out of This World are two other three-hour films expected to screen at the 79th Cannes.
While none of these titles have been officially confirmed for Cannes, World of Reel reports that the screening of Parallel Tales by Asghar Farhadi is all but certain. The French-language film features stars such as Isabelle Huppert (Elle), Virginie Efira (Benedetta), Vincent Cassel (Black Swan), Pierre Niney (The Count of Monte Cristo), Adam Bessa (Ghost Trail), and Catherine Deneuve.
Fjord, directed by Cristian Mungiu and starring Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve — with its first image recently unveiled — is another likely Cannes contender. Over the past two decades, Mungiu has frequently premiered his films at Cannes, winning the Palme d’Or in 2007 for 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days.
Jack of Spades, directed by Joel Coen, is also predicted to screen at Cannes, though it may appear in one of the sidebar sections. The film stars Josh O’Connor and Frances McDormand
