#Cannes2025 Wishlist: The Europeans

As in many film lists there are always too-many European films and Cannes perhaps is one of the festivals where European films predominate above films from any other regions. As a France based festival during many years has been a showcase for French films and when it hasn't have enough French films there was pressure from festival sponsors (the government and private companies related or not to cinema) that you can see and feel depicted in French media. It was this kind of pressure that "forced" organizers to exclude Netflix first and now any other streaming film producing companies from participating in the festival competition and the reason why nowadays good quality films produced by streamers go to Venice.

Nevertheless, there are rumors about established directors with their latest films and some newcomers, after Berlinale market, already have high fuzz and buzz consequently generating big expectations. Without further ado, let's start with the chosen selection (my wishlist) to go in-depth.

Been doing this post over several days and today, April 3rd, one important issue came to my mind, Cannes Competition only has 19 to 23 films and this year there is a long list of established directors with films that have opened in Cannes so obviously NOT all will get in as there are some considerations to take into account. First fest has to have 4 to 6 French films in competition and more interesting, there are many new young directors with debut films that have been developed in one of the three main film festivals in the World as were participants in the developing sections and some are winners of developing awards that have high possibilities to be in the competition for the Palme d'Or.

The Europeans

Lynne Ramsay - UK
Die My Love, USA and UK

Was not sure to include this film but then me liking the director very much made me decide that is worth it even when I do not like top actor performances and doubt will like it here too. Yes, I don't understand all the fuzz and buzz around Robert Pattinson as haven't seen one performance that changes my perception and yes, he has ruined movies for me like the one he did with Juliette Binoche.

Lets go back to the director. I discovered Ramsay when I saw a short film and since then do not skip her shorts, especially fantastic 2012 Swimmer -a short made for the London Olympics; but when it comes to feature films it was her impactful We Need to Talk About Kevin the one that conquered my full attention and interest to follow her developing filmmaking style. Film open in 2011 Cannes and went to collect 26 wins and 66 nominations during its run in the festival and awards circuit.

Was in Cannes 2017 where her film You Were Never Really Here won Best Screenplay (tie with Yorgos Lanthimos for The Killing of A Sacred Deer) and Joaquin Phoenix won Best Actor. Movie had a successful run at festival and awards circuit but not with audiences including me. By-the-way all her films opened in Cannes, Ratcatcher 1999 UCR,  Morven Callar 2002 Quinzaine, and both We Have to Talk About Kevin and You Were Never Really Here were in Competition for the Palme d'Or; also her short films opened in Cannes, 1996 Small Deaths and 1998 Gasman both were competing for the Short Film Palme d'Or and both won the Jury Prize.

So, why all the fuzz with her new movie? Well, I like Jennifer Lawrence (lol). Die My Love other lead is her and yes, I watch everything she does, even the really bad movies (lol) and what is more relevant, the story seems to fit Lawrence perfectly as looks/feels similar to the story-type of We Have To Talk About Kevin, take a look at the synopsis.

In a forgotten patch of countryside, a woman is battling her demons: embracing exclusion yet wanting to belong, craving freedom whilst feeling trapped, yearning for family life but wanting to burn the entire house down. Given surprising leeway by her family for her increasingly erratic behavior, she nevertheless feels ever more stifled and repressed. Motherhood, womanhood, the banality of love, the terrors of desire, the brutality of another person carrying your heart forever. A portrait of a woman (Lawrence) engulfed by love and madness, Pattinson plays her husband, and LaKeith Stanfield, her lover.

Movie is produced by Jennifer Lawrence own production company Excellent Cadaver with Black Label Media. Most industry serious sources state film will go to Cannes and if does will be in competition for the Palme d'Or; of course the statement comes from film qualifications as no one has up-to-date seen a film clip. There are two film stills and here they are.





Kantemir Balagov - Russia
Butterfly Jam, France

My first experience with Balagov was with his first feature film Tesnota (Closeness) that opened in 2017 Cannes in the Un Certain Regard section and went to win the FIPRESCI Prize; then the experience became more passionate with his amazing 2019 Dyla (Beanpole) that also opened in Un Certain Regard in Cannes 2019 and won the UCR Best Director Award as well as the FIPRESCI Prize.

By-the-way Balagov was a film student of none other than master filmmaker Alexander Sokurov and so it was Balagov's real-life partner Kira Kovalenko (Unclenching the Fists director-winner of 2021 UCR Award), with both seemly now living in the USA, exiled from Russia.

Now he has a third movie, Butterfly Jam, that could follow his previous two movies tracks and open in Cannes UCR or maybe because he dared to experiment with a language that is not his own (English) will not make it to Cannes and be released elsewhere. Still, of course I'm looking forward to watch this movie as not only like Bagalov's developing filmmaking style but also the fabulous cast that includes Riley Keough and Barry Keoghan. Story was originally only Russia set but was re-written to take place in USA.

Story synopsis: 15-year-old Pyteh lives in New Jersey’s Circassian community where his father and aunt run a diner specializing in Circassian cuisine. The business is struggling. When he’s not helping out in the restaurant, the boy is training to become a professional wrestler. After one of his father’s misguided schemes goes wrong, Pyteh must come to terms with the man his beloved father is - and isn’t - and finds himself confronted with a violence that will force him to grow up faster than he would like.

Production on film including the shoot was supposed to take place in France and in Newark from mid-September 2024 and be led by Why Not Productions (France). Recent news, by American industry press, inform that Bagalov "has not shot a single frame" and is just doing principal casting so seems film more likely will go for a 2026 release. Still, learned a very interesting story about director's personal life and a film that certainly I'm looking forward to watch. Sigh.

Teona Strugar Miteveska - Yugoslavia - now North Macedonia-
Mother, North Macedonia, Sweden, Belgium, Denmark and Netherland

No doubt that I discover Teona Strugar Mitevska late as the first movie I saw was Gospod postoi, imeto i' e Petrunija (God Exists, Her Name is Petrunya) a film that open in 2019 Berlinale in competition for the Golden Bear and won 2 collateral awards and also went to win the European Lux Prize the same year. Before I knew she existed because her Jas sum od Titov Veles (I am from Titove Veles) that open in 2007 Sarajevo but up-to-today haven't been able to watch. Sigh.

Then there is her The Happiest Man in the World that open in 2022 Venice Biennale in the Orizzonti section and won the section's top award. Unfortunately haven't been able to watch it, but hope to eventually do so. After this movie there is another that I haven't seen that got low marks among film industry pundits and open in 2023 Venice Biennale in the Giornate degli Autori section, 21 Days Until the End of the World.

Now she has a new movie, Mother about the Catholic saint Mother Teresa's seven consecutive days at a pivotal moment when she decides to leave the Loreto Entally convent in Calcutta and launch her own order. Story not really my-cup-of-tea BUT finding that none other than Noomi Rapace is playing Mother Teresa blew my mind and just have to watch her even when is Mitevska's English-language debut because character will be re-imagined as a rebellious, almost punk figure fighting against the structures of the Catholic church which perfectly fits Rapace. WOW. Movie has become must-be-seen for me and will move earth and heaven to watch it. (lol).
Will it make it to Cannes? If acepted my best guess is that will again go to Un Certain Regard, but perhaps film will do better at La Mostra.

Film is co-produced by Sisters and Brother Mitevski North Macedonian company, Entre Chien et Loup (Belgium), Frau Film (Denmark), Baldar Film (Netherlands), Spark Film and TV (Sweden), and Film i Vast (Sweden). Kinology (France) is handling global sales.

Kirill Serebrennikov - Russia (Berlin-based)
The Disappearance (aka The Disappearance of Joseph Mengele), Latvia, Serbia, Germany

My first experience with Serebrennikov was with his 2016 (M)uchenik (The Student) and since then been trying to watch his previous films as well as films after 2016, it was not an easy task but wast able to watch 2021 Petrov's Flu and 2022 Tchaikovsky's Wife. The three films opened in Cannes, the first in UCR and the last two in competition for thePalme d'Or.

According to recent news director is already working on his next Frech-language project Limonov: The Ballad; so, it's almost sure thing The Disappearance is ready to hit the festival circuit and because director's trajectory, most likely will open in Cannes maybe in competition. Also most film production companies sites list film with 2024 release which seems they delay it for festival opening.

Film synopsis from French producer:
Delves into the harrowing journey of Josef Mengele, the notorious “Angel of Death” of Auschwitz. Adapted from Olivier Guez’s best-selling novel “The Disappearance of Doctor Mengele,” the narrative begins with Mengele, under the pseudonym Helmut Gregor, seeking sanctuary in 1949 Argentina, clutching tightly to his gruesome Auschwitz experiments. With the capture and execution of Adolf Eichmann, Mengele becomes the prey of relentless Nazi hunters, forcing him to flee from the shadows.

The film is produced by CG Cinema (France), Hype Studios (Monaco), Lupa Film (Germany), Lorem Ipsum (USA), Arte France Cinema (France), Scala Films (France), Forma Pro Films (Latvia), Red Production (Serbia), Cimarron (Uruguay), and Piano (Mexico). Filming locations in Latvia Uruguay, postproduction plates in Poland, Argentina, Brazil and Serbia. Most post-productions is being done in Serbia and Kinology handles world sales while Bac Films does French distribution and DCM German distribution.

Rebecca Zlotowski - France
Vie Privée (Private Life), France

I have been watching Zlotowski films since her debut feature film Belle Épine (Dear Prudence) with two of my favorite French actresses Léa Seydoux and Anaïs Demoustier that opened in 2010 La Semaine in Cannes. Her next film has again two of my favorite French actors, Tahar Rahim and Léa Seydoux, went to open in 2013 Cannes UCR, I'm talking about Grand Central. Then she did 2016 Planetarium filmed in English and French, starring Natalie Portman but film went nowhere and after, 2019 Une fille facile (An Easy Girl) that opened at 2016 Quinzaine also did not succeed much.

But with Les enfants des autres (Other People's Children) she goes back to her roots as films in French with a great actress, Virginie Efira and consequently opened to be in Competition for a Golden Lion in 2022 Venice plus had her being introduced to US audiences in the Spotlight Section of 2023 Sundance Film Festival. So she has been in Cannes and in Venice chances are that she could return with her next movie to any of the two.

Now her sixth film, Private Life, has an incredible -major awards winners- cast Jodie Foster, Daniel Auteuil, Virginie Efira, Mathieu Amalric, Vincent Lacoste, Luàna Bajrami and Sophie Letourneur; undoubtedly film has top American and French performers plus a story that could be interesting.

Jodie Foster and Rebecca Zlotowski is finally a reality as Zlotowski wanted Foster to play Léa Seydoux's mother in 2010 Belle épine but it didn't happen. The opposite took place as the moment Foster read the script she accepted and it will be the first time that Jodie Foster is the lead in a all French-language film. More than 20-years-ago Foster had a small part in Jeunet's Un long dimanche de fiançailles.

Anyway, something says me that Cannes will not pass the opportunity of having Jodie Foster in the festival and IF film has the expected quality then has good probabilities to be in competition for the Palme d'Or.

There are not much info about the story but the following is what is being say at many indutry sites and gives an idea of film synopsis:
Foster stars in the film as renowned psychiatrist Lilian Steiner who mounts a private investigation into the death of one of her patients, whom she is convinced has been murdered.

Film was produced by Les Films Velvet, co-produced by France 3 Cinéma and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Cinéma; Goodfellas has foreign sales and Ad Vitam French theatrical distribution as has been pre-purchased by pre-purchased by France Télévisions, Canal+ and Ciné+. On February 2025 at Berlinale market was announced that Sony Pictures Classics adquired North and Latin American rights and was sold to many European countries. So, film was sold even before it was finished or traveled on the festival circuit.



Ildikó Enyedi - Hungary
Silent Friend, Germany France, Hungry, and China

I like Enyedi films but to be honest, this film is more about the cast, the lead actors as never imagined who I I consider the best actor in the world, Tony Leung, to work with one actress that been following her since her mesmerizing performance in L'enfant d'en haut by Ursula Meier, Léa Seydoux, it's just marvelous news and one movie that I'm looking forward to see ASAP. Unfortunately seems they do not share the screen as film has 3 stories happening in different eras: 1908, 1972, and 2020. Sigh.

So, Silent Friend has three different episodes that are linked by a common narrative element related to the power of nature and more specific, how plants influence and shape the lives of film's protagonists. It is in the final sequence (2020) where Tony Leung plays a well-known neuroscientist who is traveling from Hong Kong to Marburg.

Film synopsis:
Set in the botanical garden of the medieval university town of Marburg, tells three stories connected to an old tree, which was brought from South America to Europe. The film sheds light on the volatile nature of reality, depicting a radical shift in the human perception of plants, animals and people.
The medieval university town is by no means just a picturesque backdrop, but rather a defining feature of the plot – especially the botanical garden, which is almost half a millennium old. Among the many exotic species preserved there is a majestic tree that is lonelier than all others. Its flowers open at night, when the flowers of all other plants are closed. He has been watching people for a long time.

If film is accepted in Cannes for sure will be in competition as has all the right credentials to be a good contender for the Palme d'Or, of course there is one important fact missing, film opening to audiences (!) which always is a good thermometer especially in Cannes.

Film is a production of Pandora Film (Germany), Galatée Films (France) and Inforg-M&M  Film (Hungary) and co-produced by ZADF/ARTE (Germany), Arte France Cinema (France) and Rediance (China). Films Boutique (France) is selling it worldwide.

General News - Advances for 2025 Productions

To close the best news I have discovered doing this region is the latest film by Christian Mungiu that started production in Norway in March 2025 is Fjord with none other than Renate Reinsve and Sebastian Stan (both worked previously in A Different Man). Film is produced by Mungiu's Mobra Films with co-producers Why-Not Productions (France), Eye Eye Pictures (Norway), Snowglobe Film (Denmark), Aamu Film Company (Finland), and Filmgate Films (Sweden). Pre-sales were handled by French sales agent Goodfellas at Berlinale EFM, release planed for 2026. Absolutely fantastic news!

Other films with production during 2025 and release probably in Cannes 2026 are Roma Elastica and Coward. Coward is by Lukas Dhont and there are not many production news, just how film is gathering financing. Roma Elastica is by Bertrand Mandico with a stellar female cast, Marion Cotillard, Alba Rohwacher and Jasmine Trinca; story revolves around an actress who is going to make her last film in Rome in the 1980s.

Berlinale gave funding to Lisandro Alonso next film La Libertad Doble which will be a follow-up to his first ever feature film 2001 La Libertad and the main character Misael Saavedra. Still in the project process but with filming estimated to 2025, Alonso is starting to play around that could be his last film as he finds amusing to finish where he started. Let's hope is just fooling around and not reality. I know he's Argentinian but

Mubi is producing latest Mia Hansen-Løve film If Love Should Die about the life of visionary English writer and philosopher Mary Wollstonecraft. Movie is in English and will also be produced by Arte France Cinéma, Les Films Pelléas (France), Mer Film (Norway), Our Films (Italy) and Caspian Films (UK). The Match Factory leads international sales. Shooting in France, UK, Scandinavia and Portugal.