The full-length musical "Annette" by director Leos Carax opened the festival. The film features Marion Cotillard, Adam Driver, and Simon Helberg in the main roles and was created in collaboration with the American musical group Sparks. It tells the story of stand-up comedian Henry and the world-famous opera singer Ann, whose lives were changed after the birth of their first child – an amazing, gifted girl named Annette. The film will be released in the UK rental on September 3.

In addition to "Annette", 23 more films are presented IN COMPETITION.

Among them is the thriller "Flag Day", based on the relationship between a father with a criminal record, John Vogel, and his daughter, Jennifer Vogel. It is notable that these characters were played by the director himself, Oscar-winning Sean Penn, and his daughter Dylan Penn.

The historical drama "Benedetta" by Paul Verhoeven, whose premiere had been scheduled for CANNES 2019, but was postponed due to the director's health conditions; and the second fulllength work of Julia Ducournau "Titane" are also expected in the main competition program.

Wes Anderson's fans had to wait for the premiere of his new masterpiece "The French Dispatch" for more than a year, which is also in the main competition program. The comedy-drama features three storylines represented by segments in the American magazine "The French Dispatch Magazine", the weekly supplement of "Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun". The cast, which included Tilda Swinton, Owen Wilson, Christoph Waltz, Frances McDormand, Timothée Chalamet, Jason Schwartzman, Adrien Brody, Bill Murray, Benicio Del Toro, Mathieu Amalric, made the picture even more awaited.

You can also find the following movies in this category:
• "Compartment Number 6" by Finnish director Juho Kuosmanen;
• "Everything Went Fine" by François Ozon, who raises the issue of euthanasia;
• "Ahed's Knee" by Israeli director Nadav Lapid;
• "Drive my car" by Ryusuke Hamaguchi; and others.

With such a list of directors recognized by the film society, it is quite difficult to predict who will get the Palme d'Or.

There are some other SELECTIONS at the Cannes Film Festival 2021:
– "UN CERTAIN REGARD".
– "OUT OF COMPETITION";
– "SHORT FILMS";
– "SPECIAL SCREENINGS";
– "CANNES PREMIERE";
– "MIDNIGHT SCREENINGS";
– "CANNES CLASSICS";
– "MIDNIGHT SCREENINGS";
– "CINEFONDATION".
– "CINEMA FOR THE CLIMATE".

A comedy thriller by French director Nicolas Bedos "From Africa with Love" – the third film about the adventures of the legendary Agent 117 will be closing the festival. The film’s premiere in Cannes is on July 17.

Learn more about CANNES 2021 on the official website.