Cannes Film Festival: stars, jury, Palme d'or d'honneur... Everything you need to know about the 76th edition

Ophélie Artaud / Photo credit: PASCAL LE SEGRETAIN / GETTY IMAGES EUROPE / Getty Images via AFP 17:30 pm, May 14, 2023

This Tuesday, May 16, opens the 76th edition of the Cannes Film Festival, which still promises great moments of cinema. As every year, cameras from all over the world will be riveted on the Croisette, and the stars will climb the steps of the Palais des Festivals. Films in competition, stars expected, Palme d'or d'honneur... Here's everything you need to know before the Festival starts.

21 films will compete for the Palme d'Or

If a hundred films will be screened at Cannes from May 16 to 27, all selections combined, 21 films will compete for the coveted Palme d'Or. Among the most anticipated feature films in official competition: Asteroid City, by Wes Anderson, Monster, by Hirokazu Kore-eda, who had already won a Palme d'Or in 2018 for A Family Story, or May December by Todd Haynes.

More room for female directors

If they remain largely in the minority, six female directors will be in the running this year to obtain the Palme d'Or. Among them, the French Catherine Breillat (Last summer) and Justine Triet (Anatomy of a fall). Jessica Hausner (Club Zero), Alice Rohrwacher (La Chimera), Ramata-Toulaye Sy (Banel e Adama) and Kaouther Ben Hania (Les Filles d'Olfa) complete this list. The festival will also open with Jeanne du Barry, the latest film by French director Maïwenn.

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Indiana Jones and Martin Scorsese's latest film (very) awaited on the Croisette

Among the most anticipated feature films out of competition, the latest installment of the adventures of the famous archaeologist, entitled Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and directed by James Mangold, will be released on May 18 in preview. It was also an opportunity for the festival to pay tribute to Harrison Ford.

Another highly anticipated film, Killers of the Flower Moon, Martin Scorsese's latest feature film, will be presented on Saturday, May 20. The great American director should climb the steps alongside his two favorite actors, Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert de Niro, on the poster of this film.

Johnny Depp, Pedro Pascal, Margot Robbie, The Weeknd expected on the Croisette

As every year, the Croisette sees its share of stars. This year, among the most anticipated personalities, Johnny Depp, on the poster of Jeanne du Barry de Maïwenn. The return of the actor should be very scrutinized, especially because of the accusations of mutual violence and the very media trial with his ex-girlfriend Amber Heard. In the Depp family, the daughter, Lily-Rose Depp, will also be present in Cannes, for the broadcast of the first episode of the series The Idol, alongside the singer The Weeknd.

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Very popular since the broadcast of the series The Mandalorian and The Last of Us, the actor Pedro Pascal should climb the steps, just like Pedro Almodovar. Also expected are Margot Robbie, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks and Tilda Swinton for Wes Anderson's latest film, or Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore for Todd Haynes' film.

First Festival for the new president Iris Knobloch

Iris Knobloch will make her first Cannes Film Festival this year as president. She succeeds Pierre Lescure and is also the first woman to hold this position. This festival regular has worked with Clint Eastwood, Michel Hazanavicius, Woody Allen, Steven Soderbergh and George Miller. Elected last year, Iris Knobloch will preside over this edition, as well as those of 2024 and 2025.

Ruben Östlund president of the jury

The Swedish filmmaker, who won two Palmes d'Or for Unfiltered, in 2022, and The Square, in 2017, will chair the jury. He succeeds French actor Vincent Lindon. Alongside Ruben Östlund, French director Julia Ducournau, American actress Brie Larson, Moroccan director Maryam Touzani, French actor Denis Ménochet, British-Zambian director Rungano Nyoni, American actor and director Paul Dano, Afghan writer and director Atiq Rahimi and Argentine director Damian Szifron.

Michael Douglas to receive the Palme d'Or d'honneur

Oscar-winning actor Michael Douglas will receive the Palme d'Or of Honour at the opening ceremony for this 76th edition. A way to salute "his brilliant career and his commitment to cinema," the festival announced. The 78-year-old actor has presented four films in competition at Cannes: James Bridges' Chinese Syndrome in 1979, Paul Verhoeven's Basic Instinct in 1992, Joel Schumacher's Free Fall in 1993 and Steven Soderbergh's My Life with Liberace in 2013. "After more than 50 years of career, it is an honor to return to the Croisette to open the Festival and speak our common language, that of cinema," Douglas said in a statement.

Chiara Mastroianni Master of Ceremonies

Actress Chiara Mastroianni will present the opening and closing ceremonies of this 76th edition. This regular at the festival won the interpretation prize of the "Un Certain regard" selection for her role in Chambre 212 by Christophe Honoré in 2019. A way to make a small nod also to the poster of this edition which features Catherine Deneuve on the set of the film La Chamade, the mother of Chiara Mastroianni.

A Pixar film screened for the closing of the festival

Elementary, the latest film from Pixar Studios, will premiere just after the festival's closing ceremony on May 27. It tells the story of four elements, water, air, fire and earth, who live in perfect harmony in the city of Element City. Flam, a fearless young woman, and Flack, a sentimental young man, become friends and begin to question beliefs about the world they live in.

The CGT also wants to "make its cinema"

While the prefecture of Alpes-Maritimes has issued a decree banning demonstrations around the Croisette, the CGT announced that it would also "make its cinema". The union has already planned various actions to continue its opposition to the pension reform.