The Cannes Film Festival is around the corner next month, so all the satellite sidebar festivals that orbit it are preparing their line-ups. The latest is Cannes Critic Week, organized by France’s Film Critics Union, which will run May 15-23. Today, Cannes Critic Week organizers unveiled their line-up
Eleven titles have been announced so far, including seven films in official competition. Some of the highlights include Belgian filmmaker Alexis Langlois’ debut film, “Queens of Drama,” described as an ‘irresistible lesbian pop and grunge musical,” starring Louiza Aura, Gio Ventura, Bilal Hassani, and featuring appearances by Asia Argento and Alma Jodorowsky.
French-Moroccan filmmaker Saïd Hamich Benlarbi’s second feature “Across The Sea,” a melodrama about the clandestine life of a Moroccan immigrant, features French actress Anna Mouglalis, Grégoire Colin and up and comer Ayoub Gretaa in the lead.
Other titles of note include Brazilian director Marcelo Caetano‘s portrait of a young outsider growing up in São Paulo in “Baby” the neo-noir drama “Locust,” from Taiwanese director KEFF, Leonardo Van Dijl’s “Julie Keeps Quiet”; Argentinian director Federico Luis’s “Simon of the Mountain” and more.
The festival will open with Jonathan Millet’s psychological thriller “Ghost Trail,” and the closing night film is Emma Benestan’s genre picture “Animale.” Only one American film is in the line-up, and that’s Constance Tsang’s “Blue Sun Palace,” a drama about two immigrants who connect through a tragic death and find meaning in each other’s company.
Cannes Critic Week Runs May 15-23. Check out the full line-up below and watch the accompanying announcement video for further details.
2024 Critics’ Week Lineup
Competition
Baby Marcelo Caetano
Blue Sun Palace Constance Tsang
Julie Keeps Quiet Leonardo Van Dijl
Locust KEFF
Block Pass Antoine Chevrollier
The Brink of Dreams Nada Riyadh and Ayman El Amir
Simon of the Mountain Federico Luis
Special Sessions
Ghost Trail Jonathan Millet (Opening Film)
Across the Sea Said Hamich Benlarbi
Queens of Drama Alexis Langlois
Animal Emma Benestan (Closing Film)