21 films are vying for the Palme d’Or this year and new works by elite filmmakers are expected to make a major splash
Mask-less cinephiles invaded the Croisette for the 75th edition of the Cannes Film Festival this week, and this year’s ethos seems to be all about putting the pandemic behind us. A little too early? Perhaps. The relaxed nature of the first three days of the prestigious festival is alarming, but either you go with the vibe or you don’t.
The parties are also back this year. During the 2021 edition, Cannes had mask mandates, no partying, obligatory rapid tests and half the number of attendees. The movies were still great, but something was missing. Cannes boss Thierry Frémaux made sure this year’s fest would attain some kind of normalcy., a film decidedly un-Cannes-like, with its aerial-shot fighter-jet sequences and a new Lady Gaga song blaring over the closing credits.
In short, that’s the gist of Cannes – it promotes an art form that many believe, with the rise of streaming platforms, is on its last breath. Frémaux disagrees, telling me in an interview that “cinema will never die, it will evolve, but it will never die.” Judging by the excitement people have for this year’s edition on the ground, you can’t help but truly believe in what the festival director is saying.