Cannes 2020 unveils 56-film lineup despite cancellation

The 2020 Cannes Film Festival has been canceled due to the pandemic, but General Delegate Thierry Fremaux and President Pierre Lescure announced the official selection via a streaming press conference. The lineup includes 56 films bearing the Cannes label, such as Wes Anderson's 'The French Dispatch', François Ozon's 'Été 85' (opening in French cinemas on July 15), Naomi Kawase's 'True Mothers', and two anthology episodes by Steve McQueen ('Lovers Rock' and 'Mangrove'). Other notable titles include Thomas Vinterberg's 'Another Round', Maïwenn's 'DNA', and the Disney Pixar animation 'Soul' by Pete Docter. The selection features many debut films and female directors, though it is considered less glamorous than previous years. Italian films are absent, with Nanni Moretti's 'Tre Piani' redirected to the Venice Film Festival. Cannes has locked these titles, preventing them from being shown at Venice, which only accepts world premieres. Instead, they may appear at festivals like Toronto, San Sebastian, New York, Rome, and Telluride. Fremaux stated, 'Canceling the 2020 edition was never an option. For us, it's the best way to help cinema, focusing on films that will be released in the coming months.' He emphasized supporting the films' careers in France and abroad and reaffirming the importance of cinemas. Speculation persists about a possible collaboration with the Venice Film Festival, perhaps a tribute to Federico Fellini.