The Cannes Film Festival 2025, which took place from May 13 to 24, highlighted the increasing prominence of female directors, featuring directorial debuts from actresses Kristen Stewart and Scarlett Johansson.
Focus on Female Directors
This year's festival underscored the growing influence of women in cinema, showcasing a significant number of films directed by women in the main competition. Juliette Binoche presided over the jury. Amélie Bonnin's 'Leave One Day' opened the festival, exploring themes of father-daughter relationships.
Notable Film Premieres
Kristen Stewart premiered her directorial debut, 'The Chronology of Water,' an adaptation of Lidia Yuknavitch's memoir, in the 'Un Certain Regard' section, garnering critical acclaim. Scarlett Johansson also presented her directorial debut, 'Eleanor the Great,' also in the 'Un Certain Regard' section. The film features June Squibb as a 94-year-old woman who befriends a young student in New York City.
Richard Linklater's 'Nouvelle Vague'
Richard Linklater's 'Nouvelle Vague,' a French-funded film exploring the making of Jean-Luc Godard's 'Breathless,' competed for the Palme d'Or. The film captures the essence of the French New Wave with playful irony.