Curtains to rise on the 75th Cannes Film Festival today
Flashing lights, repeated echoes of camera clicks, outfits to die for and a grand majestic red carpet – the Cannes Film Festival arrives every year with gusto. With the last couple of years being different (the festival was cancelled in 2020 and it was scaled back in 2021), the attendees are hoping for the same grandeur that captures the world at the 75th Cannes Film festival.
Alhough physical contact was strictly forbidden last year, stars are now looking to enjoy this festival, mingling with their colleagues and celebrating their successes together.
Tom Cruise is returning to the French Riviera for the European launch of "Top Gun: Maverick", the sequel to his megahit released in 1986. The festival also rejoices on the comeback "Mad Max" famed director George Miller, as his "Three Thousand Years of Longing", featuring Idris Elba as a jinni will also be screened at the Cannes this year.
The iteration also has a special segment for music lovers, screening "Elvis", a biopic on the evergreen rockstar Elvis Presley, crafted by Australian director Baz Luhrmann. New documentaries "Moonage Daydream", based on David Bowie and "Trouble in Mind" made on rock'n'roller Jerry Lee Lewis made by Ethan Coen are also on the screening schedules.
David Cronenberg will return to spook the viewers this time with his Kristen Stewart, Lea Seydoux, and Viggo Mortensen starrer horror film "Crimes of the Future". The film, which echoes the essence of his earlier production from 1970 with the same name, is said to "not" be a remake.
While James Gray walks down his memory lane, finding glimpses of his adolescence with "Armageddon Time" featuring Anne Hathaway and Anthony Hopkins in lead, lauded French director Claire Denis pairs up with Robert Pattinson for his thriller "The Stars at Noon".
A total of 21 films, including the ones stated above are competing for the Palme d'Or. The shortlisted films also include masterpieces from previous winners, including the Dardenne brothers from Belgium, Sweden's Ruben Ostlund, Japan's Hirokazu Kore-eda and Romania's Cristian Mungiu. While Hollywood stars are already seen making promises to be present, celebrities from all around the world are also seen preparing for their red carpet walk.
This year, India will make its presence felt as Rajsthani folk singer Mame Khan is said to present a special performance on the opening day. Bollywood star Deepika Padukone has already graced her part by joining the nine-member jury board for selecting this year's Palme d'Or honours recipients.
Meanwhile Oscar, BAFTA and Grammy winning Indian composer A R Rahman is set to unveil his directorial debut production "Le Musk," at the Cannes Film Market's Cannes XR programme this year.
Actor-director Ethan Hawke will add to the nostalgia with his series, "The Last Movie Stars". The film is based on the celebrated Hollywood couple Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward.
Bangladesh will also maintain its representation after Abdullah Mohammad Saad directorial "Rehana Maryam Noor" made headlines being featured at the Un Certain Regard section of the competition last year.
Eminent director Shyam Benegal is looking forward to release the teaser of "Mujib: The Making of a Nation" at Cannes Market. The film, which is Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's biopic, features Arifin Shuvoo as Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Nusrat Imrose Tisha as Sheikh Fazilatunnessa Mujib, Nusraat Faria Mazhar as Sheikh Hasina, Riaz Ahmed as Tajuddin Ahmed, and Elina Shammi as Khaleda Zia, among others.
Nuhash Humayun's horror project "Moshari" has also been selected for Marché du Film - Festival de Cannes & SITGES Festival International de Cinema Fantàstic de Catalunya's Fantastic 7 section.
The 75th edition of the Cannes Film festival tries it best to keep up with its promise of taking its attendees on a nostalgic ride, revisiting the legacy of cinema worldwide. All the audience can do now is cherish what is to come in the following week.
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