Caen (AFP)

The 47th edition of the American film festival will present in September 70 American films including "Pig" with Nicolas Cage in competition and "City of lies" with Johnny Depp, out of competition, we learned Monday from the organizers.

Will these stars make the trip?

"The presence of the film teams is still under study", despite the Covid-19, replied the press service of the festival questioned by AFP.

"To date, the directors of all the films in the competition are expected," said Bruno Barde, director of the festival.

Among the 13 films in competition, figure "Pig" by Michael Sarnoski, with Nicolas Cage, a film "of enormous beauty and depth", according to the Washington Post.

This feature film tells the story of a former chef star reclusive in the woods and looking for his pig who has been kidnapped.

Out of competition, the festival will present in particular "City of lies" by Brad Furman, where Johnny Depp plays a policeman alone against all.

The film, also starring Forest Whitaker, was released direct on DVD in June.

Johnny Depp on April 16, 2021 in Barcelona LLUIS GENE AFP / Archives

On the competition side, we also find "Red Rocket" by Sean Baker, on the return to his hometown of a fallen porn star, one of the films that marked the competition in Cannes, even if he did not have a price.

Also competing for the Grand Prix of the international jury of Deauville chaired by Charlotte Gainsbourg, "Down with the king" by Diego Ongaro with the American star of hip hop Freddie Gibbs, which had been presented out of competition in Cannes by the association of independent cinema ;

"Blue Bayou" by Justin Chon (Un certain regard selection in Cannes) or "John and the hole", by Pascual Sisto who was part of the Cannes 2020 selection.

Two of the films in competition have a release date in France: "The Prey of a Shadow" by David Bruckner announced for September 15 and "Pleasure" by Swedish Ninja Thyberg, a film prohibited to under 18s, the story of a young Swede who wants to make a career in porn and discovers a world where pleasure quickly gives way to risk, toxicity and misogyny.

This film is announced on October 21 in French theaters.

For the second year in a row, the festival "will open a window on French cinema" with a selection of five unreleased films which will be added to the 70 American films, the organizers also indicated.

The festival will be held from September 3-12.

© 2021 AFP