The Cannes Film Festival has been the talk of the town for a while now, with some of the biggest names from not just Hollywood but also Bollywood walking the red carpet. The 76th Cannes Film Festival is currently taking place by the French Riviera and has garnered the attention of all cinephiles who want to explore stories from around the world. Here are some premiers with very interesting premises, that caught my eye and ones that you should look out for at Cannes this year.

1. The Idol

The Idol which is directed by Sam Levison, creator of “Euphoria”, also happens to be the debut film of The Weeknd – Abel Tesfaye and also stars Lily-Rose Depp. The fans of the two had been waiting for this one for quite some time, and it also stirred some controversy when the trailer was first released. The film revolves around an aspiring pop-idol played by Lily and her complex relationship with self-help guru and cult leader played by Abel.

2. Killers Of The Flower Moon

The film stars some of the most notable actors in Hollywood,  Leonardo DiCaprio, Brendan Fraser, Robert De Niro and is directed by none other than  Martin Scorsese. The film is based on the book by David Grann about the serial murders of members of the oil-wealthy Osage Nation. This crime saga is gripping with its power-packed acting and a must-watch.

3. Asteroid City

Wes Anderson is back with another of his masterpieces and his fans are delighted to have his work back on the big screen. The film boasts of a terrific cast that is studded with some of the industry’s biggest names. From Steve Carell, Tom Hanks, Margot Robbie, to Scarlett Johansson, Jeff Goldblum. The film revolves the set up in Wes’ colourful world where students and their parents gather from across the country to join the Junior Stargazer/Space Cadet convention, held in a desert town but are interrupted by unspecified events.

4. Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny

This film happens to be the last and final instalment of the very adventurous series of Indiana Jones. This big blockbuster film will be premiering at Cannes a month before its theatrical release. It features Antonio Banderas and Mads Mikkelsen as the villains and Pheobe Waller-Bridge as the daughter of the hero. The film takes us on a journey of locating a mysterious dial that holds the power to change the course of history. A must watch for all action freaks.

5. May December

Starring the ever-stunning Julianne Moore and Charles Melton in this drama-filled film, directed by Tom Haynes’. The plot revolves around a tabloid scandal of a woman in the public eye, with her employee that happens to be two decades younger than her. Married with two kids in the present, an actress played by Natalie Portman enters their life to dig deeper into the past. What unravels, is something to watch out for!

6. Strange Way Of Life

Starring Pedro Pascal and Ethan Hawke, the film is directed by Pedro Almodóvar. We’ve all seen cowboys being portrayed as masculine men, until this film. The story revolves around two men struggling with their sexuality, and the chemistry between the two is undeniably intense. Reuniting after 25 years, the two realise that they cannot let go of their past flame. What unfolds, is a must-watch!

7. Club Zero

Jessica Hausner’s teen-cult thriller received a five-minute standing ovation from the audience. The film revolves around a teacher manipulating her students to join an extreme nutrition cult and then further influencing her students to withdraw from the control of their parents completely. This teacher straight from hell surely makes for an interesting watch.

8. Monster

This film by Hirokazu Kore-Eda was loved by the audience and received a six-minute standing ovation as well. The film revolves around a widowed mother who is raising a son and sees him struggle in his elementary school. She later finds out the reason behind his odd behaviour – his teacher hitting him. The interesting bit about this film is that the story has been told from all perspectives, making it a very interesting watch.

9. Firebrand

Directed by Karim Aïnouz and starring Jude Law and Alicia Vikander, the film is based on the sixth and final wife of Henry VIII, Katherine Parr. The film was greeted by an eight-minute-long standing ovation from the audience that included best actress Oscar winners Michelle Yeoh and Marion Cotillard, and Gigi Hadid. Vikander’s co-star Jude Law, who plays a cruel and merciless King Henry VIII, and Brazilian helmer Aïnouz also got huge applause from the crowd at the Palais

10. Jeanne du Barry

The film starring Jhonny Depp kicked off the Cannes Film Festival with utmost pompous, as it received a standing ovation that was ten minutes long. The plot of the film revolves around how King Louis XV regains his appetite for life through Jeanne, a young working-class woman. This film is sure to take you back to old times’ charm.

The variety of films screening at the Cannes will leave you spellbound. These are just a few of our top favourites, I am sure you would have your favourites too by now.

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