WITH less than a month to go before the prestigious Cannes Film Festival begins, 19-27 May, organisers of the event have unveiled the films nominated to compete.
54 films have been announced, 22 of which are in the running for the coveted Palme d’Or, and the others entered in the new talent section, Un Certain Regard.
A host of Aussies will be starring in this year’s festival including actress Nicole Kidman, who will be starring in two films.
Kidman will feature in Lee Daniel’s film The Paperboy, set in 1960’s America, as well as in Philip Kaufman’s Hemingway and Gellhorn, which will be screened outside competition.
Australian directors are also making a splash with both Andrew Dominik and John Hillcoat’s American made films making the shortlist.
Dominik’s gangster film, Killing them Softly, starring Brad Pitt will be competing against Hillcoat’s film Lawless bootlegging, which features Aussie actors Mia Wasikowska and Jason Clarke.
In addition, a short film by Australian director Michael Spiccia has been chosen to compete against nine others for the Palme d’Or du Court Metrage at the festival. The 13 minute feature, Yardbird, follows a young girl in a remote region who attempts to fight off her father’s bullies.
(IMAGE: Courtesy Caroline David via Wikimedia Commons)