Cannes Film Festival: 2023 lineup revealed

As May approaches and the 76th Cannes Film Festival draws closer, anticipation for this year's official film selection has intensified. There’s so much to expect in 2023: From compelling pieces from world-renowned directors, like Pedro Almodóvar, Wes Aderson, and Wim Wenders, to the world premiere of a highly anticipated series like ‘Idol’, the festival promises a diverse and intriguing showcase of cinema. 

Here, we delve into the official exciting line-up for this year’s Cannes Film Festival. 

Jeanne du Barry by Maïwenn

This year’s opening film out of competition is ‘Jeanne du Barry’ a biographical, historical drama, written and directed by French director Maïwenn. The film follows the life of a charismatic courtesan, Madame du Barry (Maïwenn), who by using her charm and intelligence, manages to become a favorite of King Louis XV, played by Johnny Depp. Their love story is set in Versailles and depicts a passionate love scandal. 

Le Règne Animal by Thomas Cailley

‘Le Règne Animal’ (The Animal Kingdom) is the opening film in the Un Certain Regard section of the festival. This science fiction set in the future explores the adventures of mutated creatures, who transform from humans to animals, and at some point gain freedom from people. With this unique storyline, Thomas Cailley managed to create a mysterious and adventurous film about a father and son. The film will be released to the general public in May. 

Asteroid City by Wes Anderson

It’s always exciting to see the name of Wes Anderson on the list. Since the ‘French Dispatch' premiere in 2021, he has returned to Cannes with the new sci-fi comedy ‘Asteroid City’. Matching his timeless style and aesthetic, it’s clear that Anderson has once again created one of the most memorable films you will ever see. Full of wittiness, depth, and simple beauty drawn in pastel colors, ‘Asteroid City’ is truly an outstanding piece among the selection.  The public will be able to see the film from June 16, 2023.

The Zone of Interest by Jonathan Glazer

Jonathan Glazer’s ‘The Zone of Interest’ follows a love story between a Nazi officer and the wife of an Auschwitz commander. Based on the book of the same title, by Martin Amis, the film has sparked the interest of cinephiles worldwide. The upcoming A24 production, set to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, holds great promise as one of the top foreign language films of the year. 

Monster by Hirokazu Kore-eda

Hirokazu Kore-eda needs no introduction. A famous Japanese director, who won the Palme d'Or for ‘Shoplifters’ has returned to the Cannes red carpet this year with ‘Monster’. The film concerns the dynamics between a teacher and a student and follows an intriguing storyline. Since the 2022 premiere of ‘Broker’, it’s exciting to see Hirokazu Kore-eda’s new project on the list of the 76th Annual Festival, which will have the world premiere on June 2, 2023. 

Kuru Otlar Üstüne (About Dry Grasses) by Nuri Bilge Ceylan

‘Kuru Otlar Üstüne’ (About Dry Grasses) by Nuri Bilge Ceylan is yet another exciting movie we’ve been waiting for. Known for ‘Wild Pear Tree’ (2018) and ‘Winter Sleep’ (2014) Ceylan has established himself as one of the great directors from Turkey, and gained worldwide recognition. The film follows the story of a teacher, who is looking forward to moving to Istanbul after his mandatory service in a small village. Considering Ceylan’s usual style, we must expect the deep, psychological drama that will certainly be one of the top selections of the festival. From July 12, 2023, the film will be available in cinemas. 

The Old Oak by Ken Loach

Another exciting name on the list is a renowned British film director and screenwriter, Ken Loach. ‘The Old Oak’ tells the story of the last remaining pub, in the village of Northeast England, which is abandoned by people. Ken Loach is one of nine film directors who have wined the Palme d'Or twice, so his new film is a perfect addition to the program. 

Killers of the Flower Moon by Martin Scorsese 

The film follows the cases of Oklahoma murders in the Osage nation, that occurred in the 1920s after the oil was discovered on the land. It is the adaptation of ‘Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI’ by David Grann. With the start cast of Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Jesse Plemons, and directed by the legendary Martin Scorsese, the ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ has to keep up with the high expectations of the public. The film will be presented out of the competition at the  Cannes Film Festival. The movie will be streamed in theatres around the world from October 6, 2023. 

The Idol by Sam Levinson

‘The Idol’ is perhaps one of the most anticipated series of the year. This HBO drama series tells the story of the relationship between Jocelyn, a pop idol (Lili-Rose Depp), and a head of a modern cult, Tedros, played by the Weekend. Jocelyn, after suffering a mental breakdown, which negatively affected her career, tries to reemerge as the sexiest pop star in America.

Fans have been impatiently waiting for the release date of the series, and now, we know that it will premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. After sharing the daring trailer, the series has already earned an enormous fan base. It is clear that ‘Euphoria’ creators are following the past footsteps and have created yet another iconic, turbulent, and charismatic series.  ‘The Idol’ will be released on HBO on June 4, 2023.