Cannes’ Critics Week Unveils 2025 Lineup

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The selection for the 64th edition of Cannes’ Critics Week has been revealed, featuring a predominance of films from France and Belgium. The opening film will be “Adam’s Interest,” a gripping social drama directed by Laura Wandel.

Following the success of “Playground” which was awarded the Cannes’ Un Certain Regard prize in 2021, comes Wandel’s latest work titled “Adam’s Interest.” This film unfolds in a hospital pediatric ward and focuses on the heart-wrenching journey of a troubled mother, her child, and the dedicated nurse caring for them. Notably, this production features two prominent French actors, Léa Drucker, known for her role in “Custody,” and Anamaria Vartolomei, who gained recognition through “Happening.

Under the guidance of artistic director Ava Cahen and her team, the lineup encompasses a total of 11 feature films, with six of them being helmed by female directors. This year’s Critics’ Week received over 1,000 film submissions from 102 different countries. The chosen selection focuses on debut and sophomore films, coinciding with the Cannes Film Festival.

Among the highly awaited movies on the schedule are “The Left-Handed Girl,” a full-length debut directorial venture by Taiwanese filmmaker Shih-Ching Tsou. This movie is a collaborative effort between Tsou and Sean Baker, who is also involved in its production.

According to Cahen, the film is described as a swiftly moving urban melodrama. It tells the story of a mother and her two daughters who have just moved to Taipei and are finding it tough to get by financially. As the tragicomedy progresses, their struggles transform into an extraordinary voyage, packed with unexpected events and intense emotions that echo off the city streets, Cahen added.

In the lineup for Critics’ Week, another highly anticipated Asian film titled “A Useful Ghost” is set to make its debut, directed by Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke from Thailand. The movie is described as an elaborate work of fiction where ghosts protest their own obscurity by reincarnating as household appliances in order to grab the attention of the living and stir up unrest among them on a molecular level. Leading this intriguing film is Mai Davika Hoorne, a promising new talent in Thai cinema. According to Cahen, “A Useful Ghost” can be categorized as both a social satire and a romantic comedy.

The event, Critics’ Week, will shine a light on promising French filmmakers, such as Alice Douard with the movie “Love Letters,” a blend of drama and comedy revolving around motherhood. This film features Ella Rumpf and Monia Chokri portraying a married lesbian couple anticipating their first child. As one is pregnant and the other is preparing to adopt, an array of exciting adventures unfold, creating a charming ensemble of characters. Cahen commented that the movie is brimming with humor and affection.

In 2024, the award-winning documentary “The Nile Girls” was premiered. This year at Critics’ Week, the film “Imago,” directed by Chechen director Déni Oumar Pitsaev, will be screened in competition. According to Cahen, it is an “autobiographical documentary filmed with a handheld camera and in direct contact with reality.

In this narrative, we follow a visionary director embarking on a journey to construct a cutting-edge dwelling close to the Chechen border, challenging conventional practices. This audacious project ignites a heated discussion within his family and stirs up old wounds in his local community.

With a click or tap, the sidebar will shut as we prepare for “Dandelion’s Odyssey,” an exciting upcoming animated film directed by Momoko Seto, a renowned Japanese filmmaker. In 2019, Critics’ Week showcased “I Lost My Body,” a critically acclaimed movie that received an Oscar nomination from director Jeremy Clapin.

Previously mentioned, the panel will be headed by Rodrigo Sorogoyen, and it includes Oscar-winning British actor Daniel Kaluuya, Moroccan journalist and songwriter Jihane Bougrine, French-Canadian cinematographer Josée Deshaies, as well as Indonesian producer Yulia Evina Bhara.

Competition

“Ciudad Sin Sueño” (“Sleepless City”), Guillermo Galoe

“Imago,” Déni Oumar Pitsaev

“Kika,” Alexe Poukine

“Left-Handed Girl,” Shih-Ching Tsou

“Nino,” Pauline Loquès

“Pee Chai Dai Ka” (“A Useful Ghost”), Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke

“Rietland” (“Reedland”), Sven Bresser

Special Screenings

“Adam’s Interest”, Laura Wandel (Opening Film)

“Baise en ville,” Martin Jauvat

“Love Letters,” Alice Douard

“Planètes” (“Dandelion’s Odyssey”), Momoko Seto (Closing Film)

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2025-04-14 12:17