Luxembourg film by Jafar Panahi fights for the Palme d’Or in Cannes

The Grand Duchy was already with last year « All We Imagine as Light » in the main competition at the Cannes Film Festival represented and could even secure the Grand Prix.

This year a contribution by a Luxembourg film company is fighting for the Golden Palme: « Un Simple Accident » is the name of the film, which was co -produced by Bidibul Productions. This is announced by the Luxembourg Film Fund in a press letter.

The Iranian director Jafar Panahi, who repeatedly criticizes the Islamic Republic in his films. In 2010, Panahi was sentenced to a prison sentence for the regime due to his critical attitude and with a 20-year ban on profession.

However, he was only arrested in 2022. 2023 Panahi was released on the deposit, in short after he had stepped into a hunger strike. Even if he cannot officially pursue his job, he manages to develop films and bring abroad. He is not allowed to leave Iran.

The film Fund does not share more about the “Un Simple Accident” project. Probably for reasons. Because this new film by the Iranian director, who did not want to leak anything himself, remains a complete secret, according to the artistic director of the film festival, Thierry Frémaux, at a joint press conference with the festival president Iris Knobloch in Cannes.

The Luxembourg co -production competes with international heavyweights for this year’s Palme d’Or: Wes Anderson is represented in the main competition with « The Phoenician Scheme », Richard Linklater with « Nouvelle Vague » and Ari Aster with « Eddington ».

The Dardenne brothers also present their new film « Jeunes Mères » and Julia Ducournau, who was awarded the Golden Palm for « Titane » in 2021, returns to the festival.

New animated film from Luxembourg on the Croisette

The Luxembourg Film Society Bidibul Productions was already at this year’s Berlinale With the drama « Confidente » in the « Panorama » side series represent. Two films from local society are now even presented on the croisette.

Because « Marcel et Monsieur Pagnol » is the name of another co -production between Luxembourg, France and Belgium, which is shown at the Cannes Film Festival as part of the « Séances Spéciales ».

The animated film, directed by the Frenchman Sylvain Chomet, who has already been nominated for the Oscars several times, brings the history of the French dramatist, writer and director Marcel Pagnol onto the great canvas. Chomet also wrote the script.

The film was financially supported by the Luxembourg Film Fund with 1.5 million euros – with a total budget of almost 17 million euros in order to be precise 16,829,425 euros.

Scarlett Johansson with a directorial debut on the Croisette

Not all names and films that can be found at the Cannes Film Festival, which takes place from May 13th to May 24th. So other Luxembourg contributions could follow.

In the side series « Un Certain Regard », Scarlett Johansson presents her directorial debut « Eleanor the Great ». Further posts in the series are « Undin » by Harris Dickinson and « The Plague » by Charlie Polinger. Outside of the competition, the new “Mission Impossible”, the eighth part of the agent film series with Tom Cruise, is also shown in the leading role.

In any case, the local film industry will be represented again with a state -owned pavilion at the Croisette and Minister of Culture Eric Thill (DP) will again travel to the traditional Luxembourg reception.