The Cannes Film Festival has completed the extensive film lineup of its Official Selection, including the animated feature “Where Is Anne Frank?” directed by Oscar-nominated Ari Folman (“Waltz with Bashir”) which will play out of competition.
The festival has also added “Vortex” by Gaspar Noe to the Cannes Premiere section and “Mes Freres Et Moi” by Yohan Manca to Un Certain Regard. Starring Dario Argento and Francoise Lebrun, “Vortex” is a documentary-style film revolving around the last days of an elderly couple. “Mes Freres et Moi” is inspired by a stage play and stars up-and-comers Sofia Khammes and Dali Benssalah (“No Time to Die”).
Additional midnight screenings include “Tralala,” a musical comedy by Arnaud and Jean-Marie Larrieu and “Supremes” (“Authentik”), a biopic of the iconic French rap band NTM, directed by Audrey Estrougo.
Special screenings added include “Bill Murray’s Party: New Worlds, The Cradle of a Civilisation” by Andrew Muscato; “Mi iubta Mon amour,” the directorial debut of actor-turned-filmmaker Noemie Merlant (“Portrait of a Lady on Fire”); “Les Heroiques,” a daring addiction-themed feature debut by Maxime Roy; and “Are You Lonesome Tonight?,” Chinese helmer Wen Shipei’s feature debut.
“Anne Frank’s Diary” is a passion project for Folman who was granted privileged access to Anne Frank’s diary, various texts and family archives. The film follows the journey of Kitty, the imaginary friend to whom Anne dedicated her diary, who wakes up in today’s world, in Anne Frank’s house in Amsterdam, and embarks on a journey to find her in today’s Europe.
The film will mark Folman’s big comeback since his 2013 live action/animation hybrid movie “The Congress” with Robin Wright and Paul Giamatti which played Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight. “Anne Frank’s Diary” will be released in France by Le Pacte and is being sold by Wild Bunch International.
Before these additions, the Cannes program already included 62 films, comprising new films by Wes Anderson (“The French Dispatch”), Leox Carax (“Annette”), Paul Verhoeven (“Benedetta”), Asghar Farhadi (“A Hero) and Julia Ducournau (“Titane”).
The festival has yet to unveil the film that will close its 74th edition. Rumor has it that it could be Nicolas Bedos’s “OSS 117: From Africa With Love,” the third instalment of the spy spoof franchise starring Jean Dujardin.
Cannes will kick off July 6 with the world premiere of “Annette” with Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard, and an homage to Jodie Foster, who will receive an honorary Palme d’Or.