A potential Cannes cancellation hasn’t stopped writer Thomas Gastaldi from doing his annual "100 films in Cannes" countdown, and as usual, there are lots of interesting and unexpected titles. Gastaldi has been known to have trust-worthy sources, so this is a fun speculative experiment on his part, to see what could have potentially been part of Cannes 2020.
It’s all in French, but if you Google translate it then it’s definitely a must-read for cinephiles and festival-goers. The usual suspects are mentioned, but there are also a few interesting tidbits scattered throughout the lengthy article. These are the most surprising:
Abdelatif Kechiche’s “Mektoub: Canto Duo” seems to have been saved a spot for competition, again. Really? Especially after the reception his Mektoub: Intermezzo” got last summer at the fest? That’s what Gastaldi seems to be implying, but “Intermezzo” didn’t even get a French release and after the #MeToo fervor that ravaged this past February’s Cesars ceremony, would it have been wise to have “Canto Duo” there?
The article has six French titles which were meant for competition. Quentin Dupieux’s “Mandibules,” tops Gastaldi’s list, due to the overwhelming buzz the movie has been getting. The other French directors he’s listed as competition entries are Matthieu Amalric “Serre Moins Fort”, Stephane Brizé’s “For Better or For Worse,” Emmanuel Carrère’s “Between Two Worlds,” Francois Ozon’s “Summer of 85”, Leos Carax’ “Annette” and Kechiche.
American directors Gia Coppola and Adam Leon in competition?
With rumors suggesting Sofia’s “On the Rocks” was going to Venice, who would have actually predicted that Gia Coppola would have a competition slot! Gastadi says that her second film, titled “Mainstream,” was practically a cinch for competition. Supposedly the Berlin Film Festival’s new head Carlo Chatrian “tried everything” to get the film to premiere there, but Thierry Frémaux won out. “Mainstream” stars Andrew Garfield and is only Gia’s second feature-film after 2013’s decently reviewed “Palo Alto.”
Another surprising competition title could have been director Adam Leon’s still-untitled third feature starring Vanessa Kirby. Leon’s “Tramps” was a buried indie treasure inside TIFF’s 2016 lineup, only to get even more buried by a barely promoted Netflix pickup and release. Gimme the Loot” was part of the Cannes Un Certain Regard selection in 2012 and the writer-director has built a cult following in France, whereas in the U.S. he is still relatively unknown. That could have potentially changed at this year’s Cannes.