Key names for this 64th edition: Ava Cahen, Rodrigo Sorogoyen, Daniel Kaluuya, Jihane Bougrine, Josée Deshaies, Yulia Evina Bhara, Laura Wandel, Martin Jauvat, Alice Douard, Léa Drucker, Anamaria Vartolomei, William Lebghil, Emmanuelle Bercot, Ella Rumpf, Monia Chokri.
The 64th edition of the Cannes Critics' Week, a parallel section of the Cannes Film Festival spotlighting debut and sophomore films, returns in 2025 under the direction of Ava Cahen, its General Delegate. This new edition promises to celebrate fresh cinematic voices with a bold and carefully curated selection.
A Sharp Selection from Thousands of Submissions
Out of over 1,000 feature films and 2,340 short films viewed, just 11 feature films and 13 short films made the official selection. The full list of shorts will be announced on April 17, 2025.
An Exceptional Jury Led by Rodrigo Sorogoyen
The jury will be presided over by acclaimed Spanish filmmaker Rodrigo Sorogoyen and composed of:
- Daniel Kaluuya, Oscar-winning British actor,
- Jihane Bougrine, Moroccan film critic,
- Josée Deshaies, French-Canadian cinematographer,
- Yulia Evina Bhara, Indonesian producer.
The jury will present four major awards:
- Leitz Cine Discovery Prize for Best Short Film,
- Louis Roederer Foundation Rising Star Award,
- French Touch Jury Prize,
- AMI Paris Grand Prize for Critics’ Week.
Opening Film: A Tense, Emotional Drama by Laura Wandel
The festival will open with Adam’s Interest, the second feature by Belgian director Laura Wandel, known for her debut Playground (Un monde). Set in a pediatric hospital unit, the film follows the emotional tension surrounding a distressed mother, her undernourished son, and a dedicated nurse. With Léa Drucker and Anamaria Vartolomei delivering powerful performances, this intimate drama offers a raw look at childhood suffering and human connection.
Two Distinctive French Comedies in Special Screenings
Baise-en-ville by Martin Jauvat is a quirky, offbeat urban road movie following an unemployed young man who decides to get his driver’s license and stumbles into an unusual job placement agency. Jauvat stars alongside William Lebghil and Emmanuelle Bercot in this clever and heartfelt social comedy.
Proofs of Love, the debut feature by Alice Douard, is a dramatic comedy about motherhood in a married lesbian couple. One is pregnant, while the other navigates the bureaucracy of adoption. Featuring Ella Rumpf and Monia Chokri, the film offers a funny and tender portrait of modern love and parenthood.
With its daring choices and fresh perspectives, the 64th Critics’ Week promises to be a highlight of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, celebrating the next generation of filmmakers with sensitivity, humor, and cinematic boldness.
