The Cannes Film Festival will kick off next week, with expectations for Hollywood stars including Leonardo DiCaprio, Natalie Portman, and Harrison Ford to attend this glittering cinematic event hosted in the French city overlooking the Riviera. This year's festival marks the 76th edition of the largest film event, and here are some facts about the festival and the competitors for its awards this year:
* **Why is it significant?**
Cannes is the largest film festival in the world, first held in 1939 as an alternative to the Venice Film Festival, which was affected by fascist rule at the time. The festival has been held annually since 1946, except for the years 1948 and 1950 due to lack of funding. It is renowned for its carefully curated program featuring films that have shone at the Oscars or sparked the careers of directors such as Quentin Tarantino. The festival attracts over 12,500 industry professionals every year.
* **When will it take place?**
This year, the festival will start on May 16 with the screening of the French film "Jeanne du Barry," starring director Maïwenn and actor Johnny Depp. It will continue until May 27 and will conclude with the screening of the animated film "Elemental" produced by Pixar.
* **What films have been selected this year?**
The official list of selected films for screening includes several categories, the most significant being the films competing for the Palme d'Or. The 21 competing films this year are:
- "Dogman" directed by Jessica Hausner.
- "The Zone of Interest" directed by Jonathan Glazer.
- "Fallen Leaves" directed by Aki Kaurismäki.
- "The Brothers" directed by Kauthar Ben Hania.
- "Asteroid City" directed by Wes Anderson.
- "Anatomy of a Fall" directed by Justine Triet.
- "Monster" directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda.
- "The Sun of Tomorrow" directed by Nanni Moretti.
- "Last Summer" directed by Catherine Breillat.
- "About Dry Grasses" directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan.
- "The Chimaera" directed by Alice Rohrwacher.
- "The Passion of Dodin Bouffant" directed by Tran Anh Hung.
- "Rabbit" directed by Marco Bellocchio.
- "May December" directed by Todd Haynes.
- "Youth" directed by Wang Bing.
- "The Old Oak" directed by Ken Loach.
- "Panfilov's 28" directed by Ramatoulaye Sy.
- "Perfect Days" directed by Wim Wenders.
- "Firebrand" directed by Karim Aïnouz.
- "Black Flies" directed by Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire.
- "The Return" directed by Catherine Corsini.
Among the films presented out of competition are "Killers of the Flower Moon" directed by Martin Scorsese and "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny," marking Harrison Ford's return to the adventure films he is famous for. There are also categories for short films, in addition to the "Un Certain Regard" section that showcases unconventional works.
* **What are the awards and who has won them previously?**
The Palme d'Or is the festival's top award, and some films that have won it in the past include "Taxi Driver," "Apocalypse Now," "Pulp Fiction," "The Pianist," and "Parasite." Among female directors, only two have won: Jane Campion for "The Piano" and Julia Ducournau for "Titane." The festival includes other awards such as the Grand Prize, Jury Prize, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Screenplay, and Best Short Film. The film "Triangle of Sadness" won the Palme d'Or last year.
