The Cannes Film Festival 2025 kicked off on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in France, and will last about two weeks until May 24.
The annual film festival this year is a celebration of international collaboration, cultural diplomacy, and cinema innovation involving filmmakers from Southeast Asia, such as Indonesia and Singapore.
Asian Films and Filmmakers
Singapore is back on track for the main competition after a 17-year absence, with the film Renoir. Chie Hayakawa, as the director, brings the story of an 11-year-old girl's struggles in 1987 Tokyo.
Alongside Renoir, the movies A Useful Ghost and short film Before The Sea Forgets will also grace the screen of the Cannes Film Festival.
Indonesia's Role in Cannes
Indonesian independent film producer Yulia Evina Bhara was selected as a jury member at the Semaine de la Critique (Critics' Week). This is one of the main forums at Cannes, which platforms new talents worldwide.
One of Yulia's latest co-production with Amerta Kusuma and KawanKawan Media, Renoir, is also shortlisted in the main competition. "We hope that our film will receive tremendous appreciation," said Minister of Culture Fadli Zon on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, as quoted from Antara.
Yulia Evina Bhara is widely known for her contribution as a producer of artistically and socially bold independent films. One of her works, Tiger Stripes (2023), won the Grand Prix at Critics' Week.
She is one of the figures connecting Southeast Asian cinema with the global stage. "Her involvement (Yulia Evina Bhara) as a jury member in Critics' Week not only reflects the quality of Indonesia's film industry, but also strengthens Indonesia's position as a new force in world cinema," said Minister of Creative Economy Teuku Riefky Harsya.
Cannes' Main Competition
A total of 22 films are competing for the Palme d'Or this year. Some titles have already attracted attention long before the festival, such as Die, My Love by Lynne Ramsay. Starring Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson, this filmmaker brings a story about postpartum depression, a theme rarely explored in mainstream cinema.
Another film, Nouvelle Vague by Richard Linklater, highlights the era of the French New Wave and the filming process of Breathless.
Cannes will also see Alpha by former Palme d'Or winner Julia Ducournau this year.
Other names like Wes Anderson (The Phoenician Scheme), Ari Aster (Eddington), and Jafar Panahi (It Was Just an Accident) also enliven the competition. Blockbuster films like Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning will be screened out of competition, showcasing a variety of genres and the festival's appeal this year.
Putri Safira Pitaloka also contributed to the writing of this article
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