When Thierry Frémaux announced the initial slate for the 78th Cannes Film Festival earlier this month, there were several rumored filmmakers who, quizzically, weren’t part of the reveal. One filmmaker, Spike Lee, saw his passion project “Highest 2 Lowest” added within hours after star Denzel Washington committed to appear on La Croisette. Two of the other most buzzed about additions occurred today, as Kristen Stewart’s directorial debut, “The Chronology of Water,” and a highly anticipated new Lynne Ramsay film, “Die My Love,” were formally invited to the festival.
READ MORE: Cannes 2025: New Films from Ari Aster, Joachim Trier, Wes Anderson, Scarlett Johansson
Of the 16 additions, one minor surprise is the inclusion of Ethan Coen’s “Honey Don’t!” The second chapter in a “lesbian” trilogy, the comedy brings major star power to Cannes with stars Margaret Qualley, Aubrey Plaza, and Chris Evans. Focus Features has not revealed a release date for the follow-up to “Drive Away Dolls,” which will debut as a Midnight Screening.
The other new Midnight Screening is Vincent Maël Cardona’s “Le Roi Soleil (The Sun King).”
An adaptation of Ariana Harwicz’s 2017 novel, “Die My Love,” is arguably the biggest acquisition title at the festival this year. Starring Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson, its Cannes competition pedigree puts it front and center in the awards conversation before it ever debuts. This is also Lawrence’s most high-profile prestige film since Darren Aronofsky’s “Mother!” in 2017 (emphasis on “high profile”).
“Water” is Stewart’s first feature-length film and an adaptation of Lidia Yuknavitch‘s 2011 memoir of the same name. The movie stars Imogen Poots and a cast that includes Thora Birch, Sonic Youth band member Kim Gordon, and Jim Belushi. This Un Certain Regard title is also looking for U.S. distribution.
The other addition to the competition slate is Saeed Roustaee’s “Mother and Child.” His last film, 2022’s “Leila’s Brothers,” also debuted in competition at Cannes.
Joining “Water” in Un Certain Regard are Anna Cazenave Cambet’s “Love Me Tender,” starring Vicky Krieps, Simón Mesa Soto’s “Un Poeta,” and Pedro Pinho’s “O Riso E A Faca (Le Rire et le Couteau).”
New Cannes Premiere titles include Kōji Fukada’s “Renai Saiban,” Hlynur Pálmason’s “Godland” follow-up, “Ástin Sem Eftir Er (The Love That Remains,” and Lav Diaz’s “Magellan” starring Gael Garcia Bernal.
The complete list of new films are as follows:
| COMPETITION DIE MY LOVE Lynne Ramsay MOTHER AND CHILD Saeed Roustaee |
| UN CERTAIN REGARD LOVE ME TENDER Anna Cazenave Cambet UN POETA Simón Mesa Soto O RISO E A FACA (LE RIRE ET LE COUTEAU) Pedro Pinho THE CHRONOLOGY OF WATER Kristen Stewart 1st film |
| CANNES PREMIERE RENAI SAIBAN Kōji Fukada ÁSTIN SEM EFTIR ER Hlynur Pálmason MAGALHÃES Lav Diaz |
| MIDNIGHT SCREENINGS LE ROI SOLEIL Vincent Maël Cardona HONEY DON’T Ethan Coen |
| SPECIAL SCREENINGS AMÉLIE ET LA MÉTAPHYSIQUE DES TUBES Maïlys Vallade and Liane-Cho Han 1st film MAMA Or Sinai 1st film ARCO Ugo Bienvenu 1st film QUI BRILLE AU COMBAT Joséphine Japy 1st film |
| AND AS PART OF A TRIBUTE TO PIERRE RICHARD L’HOMME QUI A VU L’OURS QUI A VU L’HOMME Pierre Richard |
The 2025 Cannes Film Festival will run from May 13 to 24. Look for continuing coverage, including previews, interviews, and reviews on The Playlist.
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