Cannes Unveils Diverse International Line-Up; Scripted Drama Boom Declared Over At MipTV

Now the Cannes film festival (May 16-27) line-up is mostly announced, it’s safe to say it’s one of the most internationally diverse selections for years, across both the Official Selection and the parallel sections, although the choice of an opening film starring Johnnie Depp, Maiwenn’s Jeanne du Barry, may be raising eyebrows among the woke brigade. Also this week, speakers at MipTV suggested the streaming-driven boom for scripted drama is finally slowing down, which may lead to new financing models for episodic content.

Cannes Line-up Surprises With Entries from Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia & Mongolia

One of the unexpected elements of this year’s Cannes line-up was the inclusion of three titles from Sub-Saharan Africa in official selection – Banel & Adama, from French-Senegalese filmmaker Ramata-Toulaye Sy, about a young couple facing harsh realities in rural Senegal; Goodbye Julia, from Sudan’s Mohamed Kordofani, which explores differences between the north and south of Sudan through the story of two women; and Omen from Belgian-Congolese rapper Baloji, a dream-like tale of a man’s return to his birthplace.