Another early morning, another early announcement from France. As promised by the organizers previously, new titles have been added to the Cannes Film Festival, nine of them in total. Highlights include new films by Israeli filmmaker Ari Folman, Argentinian/Italian provocateur based in France, Gaspar Noé, a new project from Bill Murray, and the directorial debut from French actress Noémie Merlant (“Portrait Of A Lady On Fire“).
Folman is known for his animated work, including the Academy Award-nominated film “Waltz With Bashir,” a dreamy search for the lost memories of his experience as a soldier in the 1982 Lebanon War. Folman’s latest, “Where Is Anne Frank?,” dives into the life of the most well-known discussed Jewish victims of the Holocaust, thanks to her posthumously released diary, where she documented her life in hiding from the Nazis in the German-occupied Netherlands in World War II. Folman was granted privileged access to Anne Frank’s diary, various texts, and family archives for the film, according to Variety. The film follows the journey of Kitty, the imaginary friend to whom Anne dedicated her diary, who wakes up in today’s world, in Anne Frank’s house in Amsterdam, and embarks on a journey to find her in today’s Europe.
Gaspar Noé’s project is called “Vortex” and stars the famed Italian Giallo filmmaker Dario Argento. It will play out of competition, like Folman’s movie, and the film is reportedly about the story of the last days of a pair of old lovers.
Also of note is “New Worlds, the Cradle of a Civilization” by Greek/American filmmaker Andrew Muscato that stars comedian Bill Murray. The film is a concert/performance film featuring Murray and the musicians from New Worlds: Jan Vogler, Mira Wang, and Vanessa Perez. You can watch the first clip/teaser from the film right here.
Merlant’s movie is a self-financed micro-budget production lensed in Romania with a tiny crew and a small cast, including Gimi-Nicolae Covaci, who co-wrote the script with her. Merlant also plays the female lead, who is about to get married and goes on a pre-nuptial trip with a group of girlfriends to Romania, according to a recent Variety report.
Lastly, Cannes notes that the opening film of the Un Certain Regard section and the closing night film of the overall festival will be announced very shortly. 62 films have been announced so far, including new titles from Wes Anderson, Leos Carax, Julia Ducournau (“Titane”), Paul Verhoeven, and more. The Cannes Film Festival runs July 6 through 17. Here are the new films added to the existing line-up.
OUT OF COMPETITION
Where is Anne Frank?, by Ari Folman (Israel) – Animated film
CANNES PREMIERE
Vortex by Gaspar Noé (Argentina – Italy) starring Dario Argento, Françoise Lebrun and Alex Lutz
UN CERTAIN REGARD
Mes frères et moi by Yohan Manca (France) starring Sofian Khammes, Dali Benssalah, Judith Chemla, Maël Rouin Berrandou – First feature
MIDNIGHT SCREENINGS
Tralala by Arnaud and Jean-Marie Larrieu (France) starring Mathieu Amalric, Mélanie Thierry, Bertrand Belin, Maïwenn, Josiane Balasko, Denis Lavant
Suprêmes by Audrey Estrougo (France) starring Théo Christine, Sandor Funtek
SPECIAL SCREENINGS
Bill Murray’s party: New Worlds, the cradle of a civilization by Andrew Muscato (Greece-USA) starring Bill Murray and the musicians from New Worlds: Jan Vogler, Mira Wang, and Vanessa Perez
Mi iubita, Mon amour by Noémie Merlant (France) starring Gimi-Nicolae Covaci and Noémie Merlant – First feature
Les Héroïques by Maxime Roy (France) starring François Creton, Richard Bohringer, Ariane Ascaride, Clotilde Courau, Patrick D’Assumçao – First feature
Are you lonesome tonight? by Wen Shipei (China) starring Sylvia Chang, Eddie Peng – First feature