Cannes Prepares for 78th Festival Amid Global Tensions/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The 78th Cannes Film Festival begins this week amid rising political tensions and looming U.S. tariff threats on foreign films. Filmmakers from around the world will compete for the prestigious Palme d’Or, including works by Spike Lee, Wes Anderson, and debut directors like Kristen Stewart. Cannes remains a global cinematic battleground—and a symbol of cultural resistance.
Cannes 2025 Opens With Big Films, Bigger Stakes – Quick Looks
- 78th Cannes Film Festival launches amid global trade uncertainty.
- U.S. President Trump threatens 100% tariffs on foreign films.
- Palme d’Or contenders include films from Spike Lee, Lynne Ramsay, and Ari Aster.
- First-time directors Kristen Stewart and Scarlett Johansson debut features.
- Festival features landmark films from Iran, Ukraine, and Nigeria.
- Cannes remains central to international Oscar campaigns and global premieres.
- Concerns rise over Cannes’ future in a politicized trade environment.
- Robert De Niro to receive honorary Palme d’Or.
Cannes Prepares for 78th Festival Amid Global Tensions
Deep Look
CANNES, France (AP) — As the red carpet rolls out for the 78th Cannes Film Festival, global cinema finds itself at a pivotal moment. With political tensions rising and the U.S. threatening to impose steep tariffs on foreign-produced films, Cannes—long a crossroads of artistic diplomacy and cinematic prestige—enters 2025 with more at stake than ever.
President Donald Trump’s recent declaration that films “produced in Foreign Lands” may soon face 100% tariffs has cast a shadow over the international film community. While the White House has yet to finalize the measure, the threat alone has sent ripples through Cannes’ deeply global network of filmmakers, distributors, and cultural ambassadors.
A Festival of International Resistance
From its origin during World War II as an alternative to fascist-controlled Venice, Cannes has symbolized cinematic freedom and defiance, especially during periods of political tension. This year, the festival will feature:
- Iranian dissident Jafar Panahi
- Ukrainian documentarian Sergei Loznitsa
- Nigeria’s first-ever entry in competition, Akinola Davies Jr.’s “My Father’s Shadow”
“The job of cinema is to cross borders,” says Japanese director Chie Hayakawa, debuting her feature Renoir at the festival. “Cannes reminds us that film can speak to anyone, anywhere.”
South African filmmaker Oliver Hermanus, premiering The History of Sound, echoes that sentiment: “This is a gladiatorial arena,” he says. “Everything to lose, everything to gain.”
Star Power and Oscar Launches
This year’s lineup includes anticipated films from Wes Anderson, Lynne Ramsay, Richard Linklater, and Ari Aster. Spike Lee returns, as do stars like Jennifer Lawrence, Robert Pattinson, and Kristen Stewart, who is also unveiling her feature directorial debut, The Chronology of Water, in the Un Certain Regard section.
Other directorial debuts include:
- Scarlett Johansson’s “Eleanor the Great”
- Harris Dickinson’s “Urchin”
Cannes continues to be a powerful launchpad for awards-season contenders. Last year’s Palme d’Or winner, Anora, went on to win Best Picture at the Oscars—proof of the festival’s evolving influence in shaping global film discourse.
Tariff Threat Looms Over the Croisette
Trump’s May 4 tariff announcement rattled nerves across the film world, particularly in Europe and Asia. While federal incentives for U.S.-based production are being considered as an alternative, Cannes’ deeply international DNA makes it especially vulnerable to protectionist measures.
Kleber Mendonça Filho, returning to Cannes with The Secret Agent, remains cautiously optimistic. “This may be a bad idea or a misunderstanding that gets walked back,” he said. “Even leaders like Bolsonaro and Trump eventually have to face reason.”
Filho likens Cannes to stepping into a “Colosseum”—where preparation, precision, and pressure all converge. “You test your film in front of the most critical eyes in the world,” he says.
A Cinematic Crucible
Cannes is hosting 22 films in official competition this year. From intimate character studies to sweeping historical epics, the diversity of voices and themes reflects Cannes’ commitment to global storytelling.
Director Hermanus, who first attended Cannes with 2011’s Beauty, knows the intensity well. “The selection itself is an honor. But surviving the scrutiny, the reaction—that’s the real challenge,” he says.
As filmmakers from South Africa to Tokyo to São Paulo make their way to the French Riviera, the shared sentiment is clear: Cannes isn’t just about premieres or prizes. It’s about presence. About standing on cinema’s grandest stage—and being heard.
