Latest news with #Palme
The Advertiser
7 days ago
- Health
- The Advertiser
'Catastrophe': 1000 rural doctor training jobs in limbo as review languishes
Hundreds of specialist doctor training positions in rural hospitals, nursing homes and clinics are in limbo while a funding review sits with the health department. The specialist training program (STP) funds the salaries and some expenses of more than 1000 trainee doctors around Australia to get supervised experience outside the big city hospitals. But in April the federal health department wrote to the 13 medical colleges administering the program to say it could not guarantee anything beyond 2025. "We acknowledge the timing of the decision may put pressure on colleges to be able to recruit and fill future posts, pending confirmation of future funding arrangements," the department wrote in a message seen by ACM, the publisher of this masthead. "However, at this stage we are unable to provide any information about next steps for the STP post December 2025." The Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, which has cancer treatment clinics in Nowra, Orange, Port Macquarie and Tamworth, said the delay was catastrophic for regional communities. "This is a catastrophe," Professor Carsten Palme, the organisation's director of head and neck surgery, said. "This has massive ramifications. "These [specialist training program] positions fund the employment of these people," he said. "We expose them to regional Australia." Professor Palme said as waiting lists for ear, nose and throat surgery grew, the government wasn't providing even an indication of the future of the program. "To train [ear, nose and throat] surgeons you've got to have actual positions," he said. ACM understands an evaluation of the specialist training program was completed in November 2024 and this now sits with the department. The program funds 920 training places and 100 posts for trainee specialists to get at least two thirds of their practical experience in rural Australia, as well as a dedicated specialist scheme in Tasmania. An Australian Medical Association (AMA) report released in April 2025 identified financial incentives to recruit and retain medicos in the bush as a top priority for rural doctors. The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons said it met with the federal health department last week and was assured the program's future "is not uncertain". "We ... welcome details about changes to the funding to align with the program's purpose, which is to address the maldistribution of the medical workforce," college chief executive Stephanie Clota said. The scheme was "critical" for the surgeons' college which ran 64 full time equivalent rural training posts through it in 2025. "To avoid disrupting services in 2026, if there is a change in funding, we have requested that transitional arrangements be factored in," she said. The federal health department confirmed the program was under review but said any decision about its future was up to the government. "The STP is undergoing a period of reform and review, informed by an independent evaluation of the program undertaken in 2024-2025," a spokesman said. "Any decision on future arrangements for the STP, and whether the final evaluation report will be published, are subject to a decision of the government." The scheme funds about seven per cent of non-GP specialist trainees across Australia, while the states and territories take care of the remainder. "Non-GP specialist colleges will be advised once a determination on the future of the program has been made by government," he said. A spokeswoman for Health Minister Mark Butler said the minister's office was yet to receive a copy of the review. *This story has been updated following new information received from Health Minister Mark Butler's office that the program evaluation had not yet been received by his office. Hundreds of specialist doctor training positions in rural hospitals, nursing homes and clinics are in limbo while a funding review sits with the health department. The specialist training program (STP) funds the salaries and some expenses of more than 1000 trainee doctors around Australia to get supervised experience outside the big city hospitals. But in April the federal health department wrote to the 13 medical colleges administering the program to say it could not guarantee anything beyond 2025. "We acknowledge the timing of the decision may put pressure on colleges to be able to recruit and fill future posts, pending confirmation of future funding arrangements," the department wrote in a message seen by ACM, the publisher of this masthead. "However, at this stage we are unable to provide any information about next steps for the STP post December 2025." The Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, which has cancer treatment clinics in Nowra, Orange, Port Macquarie and Tamworth, said the delay was catastrophic for regional communities. "This is a catastrophe," Professor Carsten Palme, the organisation's director of head and neck surgery, said. "This has massive ramifications. "These [specialist training program] positions fund the employment of these people," he said. "We expose them to regional Australia." Professor Palme said as waiting lists for ear, nose and throat surgery grew, the government wasn't providing even an indication of the future of the program. "To train [ear, nose and throat] surgeons you've got to have actual positions," he said. ACM understands an evaluation of the specialist training program was completed in November 2024 and this now sits with the department. The program funds 920 training places and 100 posts for trainee specialists to get at least two thirds of their practical experience in rural Australia, as well as a dedicated specialist scheme in Tasmania. An Australian Medical Association (AMA) report released in April 2025 identified financial incentives to recruit and retain medicos in the bush as a top priority for rural doctors. The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons said it met with the federal health department last week and was assured the program's future "is not uncertain". "We ... welcome details about changes to the funding to align with the program's purpose, which is to address the maldistribution of the medical workforce," college chief executive Stephanie Clota said. The scheme was "critical" for the surgeons' college which ran 64 full time equivalent rural training posts through it in 2025. "To avoid disrupting services in 2026, if there is a change in funding, we have requested that transitional arrangements be factored in," she said. The federal health department confirmed the program was under review but said any decision about its future was up to the government. "The STP is undergoing a period of reform and review, informed by an independent evaluation of the program undertaken in 2024-2025," a spokesman said. "Any decision on future arrangements for the STP, and whether the final evaluation report will be published, are subject to a decision of the government." The scheme funds about seven per cent of non-GP specialist trainees across Australia, while the states and territories take care of the remainder. "Non-GP specialist colleges will be advised once a determination on the future of the program has been made by government," he said. A spokeswoman for Health Minister Mark Butler said the minister's office was yet to receive a copy of the review. *This story has been updated following new information received from Health Minister Mark Butler's office that the program evaluation had not yet been received by his office. Hundreds of specialist doctor training positions in rural hospitals, nursing homes and clinics are in limbo while a funding review sits with the health department. The specialist training program (STP) funds the salaries and some expenses of more than 1000 trainee doctors around Australia to get supervised experience outside the big city hospitals. But in April the federal health department wrote to the 13 medical colleges administering the program to say it could not guarantee anything beyond 2025. "We acknowledge the timing of the decision may put pressure on colleges to be able to recruit and fill future posts, pending confirmation of future funding arrangements," the department wrote in a message seen by ACM, the publisher of this masthead. "However, at this stage we are unable to provide any information about next steps for the STP post December 2025." The Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, which has cancer treatment clinics in Nowra, Orange, Port Macquarie and Tamworth, said the delay was catastrophic for regional communities. "This is a catastrophe," Professor Carsten Palme, the organisation's director of head and neck surgery, said. "This has massive ramifications. "These [specialist training program] positions fund the employment of these people," he said. "We expose them to regional Australia." Professor Palme said as waiting lists for ear, nose and throat surgery grew, the government wasn't providing even an indication of the future of the program. "To train [ear, nose and throat] surgeons you've got to have actual positions," he said. ACM understands an evaluation of the specialist training program was completed in November 2024 and this now sits with the department. The program funds 920 training places and 100 posts for trainee specialists to get at least two thirds of their practical experience in rural Australia, as well as a dedicated specialist scheme in Tasmania. An Australian Medical Association (AMA) report released in April 2025 identified financial incentives to recruit and retain medicos in the bush as a top priority for rural doctors. The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons said it met with the federal health department last week and was assured the program's future "is not uncertain". "We ... welcome details about changes to the funding to align with the program's purpose, which is to address the maldistribution of the medical workforce," college chief executive Stephanie Clota said. The scheme was "critical" for the surgeons' college which ran 64 full time equivalent rural training posts through it in 2025. "To avoid disrupting services in 2026, if there is a change in funding, we have requested that transitional arrangements be factored in," she said. The federal health department confirmed the program was under review but said any decision about its future was up to the government. "The STP is undergoing a period of reform and review, informed by an independent evaluation of the program undertaken in 2024-2025," a spokesman said. "Any decision on future arrangements for the STP, and whether the final evaluation report will be published, are subject to a decision of the government." The scheme funds about seven per cent of non-GP specialist trainees across Australia, while the states and territories take care of the remainder. "Non-GP specialist colleges will be advised once a determination on the future of the program has been made by government," he said. A spokeswoman for Health Minister Mark Butler said the minister's office was yet to receive a copy of the review. *This story has been updated following new information received from Health Minister Mark Butler's office that the program evaluation had not yet been received by his office. Hundreds of specialist doctor training positions in rural hospitals, nursing homes and clinics are in limbo while a funding review sits with the health department. The specialist training program (STP) funds the salaries and some expenses of more than 1000 trainee doctors around Australia to get supervised experience outside the big city hospitals. But in April the federal health department wrote to the 13 medical colleges administering the program to say it could not guarantee anything beyond 2025. "We acknowledge the timing of the decision may put pressure on colleges to be able to recruit and fill future posts, pending confirmation of future funding arrangements," the department wrote in a message seen by ACM, the publisher of this masthead. "However, at this stage we are unable to provide any information about next steps for the STP post December 2025." The Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, which has cancer treatment clinics in Nowra, Orange, Port Macquarie and Tamworth, said the delay was catastrophic for regional communities. "This is a catastrophe," Professor Carsten Palme, the organisation's director of head and neck surgery, said. "This has massive ramifications. "These [specialist training program] positions fund the employment of these people," he said. "We expose them to regional Australia." Professor Palme said as waiting lists for ear, nose and throat surgery grew, the government wasn't providing even an indication of the future of the program. "To train [ear, nose and throat] surgeons you've got to have actual positions," he said. ACM understands an evaluation of the specialist training program was completed in November 2024 and this now sits with the department. The program funds 920 training places and 100 posts for trainee specialists to get at least two thirds of their practical experience in rural Australia, as well as a dedicated specialist scheme in Tasmania. An Australian Medical Association (AMA) report released in April 2025 identified financial incentives to recruit and retain medicos in the bush as a top priority for rural doctors. The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons said it met with the federal health department last week and was assured the program's future "is not uncertain". "We ... welcome details about changes to the funding to align with the program's purpose, which is to address the maldistribution of the medical workforce," college chief executive Stephanie Clota said. The scheme was "critical" for the surgeons' college which ran 64 full time equivalent rural training posts through it in 2025. "To avoid disrupting services in 2026, if there is a change in funding, we have requested that transitional arrangements be factored in," she said. The federal health department confirmed the program was under review but said any decision about its future was up to the government. "The STP is undergoing a period of reform and review, informed by an independent evaluation of the program undertaken in 2024-2025," a spokesman said. "Any decision on future arrangements for the STP, and whether the final evaluation report will be published, are subject to a decision of the government." The scheme funds about seven per cent of non-GP specialist trainees across Australia, while the states and territories take care of the remainder. "Non-GP specialist colleges will be advised once a determination on the future of the program has been made by government," he said. A spokeswoman for Health Minister Mark Butler said the minister's office was yet to receive a copy of the review. *This story has been updated following new information received from Health Minister Mark Butler's office that the program evaluation had not yet been received by his office.
Irish Independent
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Denzel Washington confronts photographer at Cannes amid red carpet tension
The actor, 70, was captured on video pointing directly at the individual and saying 'Stop it!' after appearing visibly irritated by being tapped on the arm while posing for photos alongside co-star A$AP Rocky. Though the man appeared to shrug off the moment with a smile, Washington made it clear he did not appreciate the unsolicited contact. The clip quickly spread on social media, where fans rallied in support of the double Oscar winner. 'Idk what happened but I know Denzel is in the right,' wrote one user on X, while another added: 'The dude was touching him. I guarantee that's why he was pissed, I would be too. Good man.' A third commented: 'I don't get that stuff. These folks are around people all day, every day grabbing at them and asking them for stuff. Not a life I'd ever want, I see stuff like how Denzel reacted and I give him a total pass.' 'You can clearly see Denzel say 'do not put your hands on me' and then the guy does it again. What a clown,' a fourth claimed. Despite the flash of tension, the evening went on to deliver a major surprise. Washington, in Cannes for just one day—his only break from a New York stage run of Othello—was honoured with an unannounced lifetime achievement Palme d'Or, presented by longtime collaborator and Highest 2 Lowest director Spike Lee. 'This is my brother, right here,' Lee said on stage, as he handed the award to a visibly moved Washington. 'This is a total surprise for me!' the actor replied, holding the Palme as the audience applauded. The film, which was absent from the official Cannes schedule until the last minute, is a modern retelling of Akira Kurosawa's 1963 crime thriller High and Low. Backed by Apple and A24, the project will arrive in cinemas on August 22 before streaming on Apple TV+ from September 5.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Denzel Washington Surprised With Honorary Palme d'Or at Cannes
Denzel Washington was surprised at the Cannes Film Festival on Monday night with an honorary Palme d'Or, a career achievement acknowledgement that has been presented only 21 previous times. Ahead of an out-of-competition screening of his latest film, Spike Lee's Highest 2 Lowest, fest director Thierry Frémaux surprised the Oscar winner with the honor. More from The Hollywood Reporter June Squibb on Her Nonagenarian Career High: "A 70-Year-Old Will Say, 'I Want To Be You When I Grow Up!'" Norwegian Berlinale Winner Dag Johan Haugerud Named Jury Head for Venice's Giornate Degli Autori Cannes: Wes Anderson Teases His Next Film Lee presented Washington with the honor after an introduction from Frémaux. The presentation saw Washington receive a huge standing ovation. 'This is a total surprise for me, so I'm emotional. It's a great opportunity to collaborate with my brother once again, brother from another mother, and to be here once again in Cannes,' Washington said in part, after Lee previously referred to Washington as his brother and expressed his love for . 'We're a very privileged group in this room that we get to make movies and wear tuxedos and nice clothes and dress up and get paid for it as well. We're just blessed beyond measure. I'm blessed beyond measure. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you all.' Highest 2 Lowest marks Washington and Lee's first film together in nearly 20 years and fifth collaboration overall. Washington is making a quick stop at Cannes in between performances of Othello on Broadway. The play, in which he stars opposite Jake Gyllenhaal, is dark on Mondays like most Broadway productions. An honorary Palme was presented on the opening night of this year's fest to Robert De Niro, but that was announced in advance, as have been all honorary Palme presentations since 2022, when Fremaux handed an unannounced one to Tom Cruise. Other previous recipients of Cannes' honorary Palme, which was first presented in 2002, include Catherine Deneuve, Jane Fonda, Clint Eastwood, Agnès Varda, Jodie Foster, Harrison Ford, Michael Douglas and, last year, Meryl Streep and George Lucas. Also last year, Studio Ghibli became the first organization, as opposed to individual, to receive the honor. Washington is a two-time Oscar winner, receiving the Academy Award for best supporting actor for his role in Glory and best actor for his work in Training Day. He also received an Oscar nomination for best picture for the film adaptation of Fences, which he also directed. Among other accolades, he's also received a Presidential Medal of Freedom and Tony Award, for the Broadway revival of Fences, though he recently missed out on a chance at another Tony as his latest production of Othello failed to receive any Tony nods. Hilary Lewis and Scott Roxborough contributed to this report. Best of The Hollywood Reporter 'The Goonies' Cast, Then and Now "A Nutless Monkey Could Do Your Job": From Abusive to Angst-Ridden, 16 Memorable Studio Exec Portrayals in Film and TV The 10 Best Baseball Movies of All Time, Ranked
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Neon's Palme D'Or Whisperer Tom Quinn Reveals Keys To Cannes And Oscar Success: 'I'm Happy To Share A Playbook'
There was time when studios thought premiering a film in Cannes in May could turn out to be a major hindrance to that movie's Oscar chances nine months later. It was a logical assumption. Voters have short memories, and also, if the film doesn't make a splash on the Croisette, it could be all over for its awards dreams. The fall festival trifecta of Venice, Telluride and Toronto became much 'safer' (financially and otherwise), and a more logical bet to launch an Oscar campaign, requiring only six months post-launch to keep the contender alive rather than nine. After all, the Palme d'Or at Cannes and the Academy Award for Best Picture had matched only once since Marty won the first Palme in 1955. That all changed in 2019, when Cannes' Palme d'Or winner, South Korea's Parasite, upset conventional thinking and went on to also triumph at the Oscars, ultimately taking the top prize there. It was the first time a foreign-language picture won the Best Picture Oscar and the top international film, and it has turned out to be a game-changer led by Neon founder and CEO Tom Quinn. Now, Neon has distributed in the U.S. the past five — count 'em, five — Palme d'Or winners in a row, beginning with Parasite and followed by Titane, Triangle of Sadness, Anatomy of a Fall and Anora. The latter became the second Neon film to win both the Palme and the Best Picture Oscar. Additionally, both Triangle of Sadness and Anatomy of a Fall went on to receive Best Picture Oscar nominations, among other categories. Quite a track record, and proof positive that Neon has been instrumental in smashing the Cannes curse for Oscar (if it ever existed). More from Deadline Scarlett Johansson On Why The Script For Her Directorial Debut 'Eleanor The Great' Made Her Cry: 'It's About Forgiveness' – Cannes Cover Story 'Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning' Cannes Film Festival Premiere Photos: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Angela Bassett, Hannah Waddingham & More 'The White Lotus' & 'Sex Education' Star Aimee Lou Wood Joins Angelina Jolie In 'Anxious People' With Black Bear & WME Selling At Cannes Market Quinn gives Thierry Frémaux much of the credit for selecting the lineups and saying it is just not happenstance. The Cannes Film Festival head is certainly aware of the shifting sands, as he pointed out while announcing this year's films, even though he stated that a year ago he would not have been able to imagine the Oscar success of 2024 Cannes debuts like Anora, Emilia Pérez, The Substance and, for that matter, a whopping 31 nominations overall for Cannes titles. 'If you look at the last seven, eight years, Cannes was great. I mean Cannes and the films of Cannes were great and awarded everywhere,' Frémaux said. 'For the films I have just announced this morning, I really don't know, but what I'm really happy about is the link between Cannes in May and the Academy Awards in March. You can arrive in Cannes in May and be still alive in March almost one year later.' It is definitely something Quinn understands well, and that is one reason why Neon will be back on the Croisette this year with no less than four selections in the official lineups: Orwell, Splitsville, Sentimental Value and Alpha. The fact is, Quinn never had a master plan, and says going back to Parasite it never crossed his mind that, after seeing it in the late-night slot — following Quentin Tarantino's much more hyped and anticipated studio juggernaut Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, which went on to earn 10 Oscar nominations itself — it would go on to win both the Palme and Best Picture. Impossible, right? 'There wasn't a direct intention behind it,' Quinn says. 'But what I will tell you, what has always been large in my head, about Cannes, and it's my favorite festival, absolutely, by far. Granted, the Riviera certainly helps. The Lumiere helps. Incredible programming team, but the films that have always seemed large for me were Wild at Heart, Sex, Lies, and Videotape, Apocalypse Now. I always had this very romanticized, nostalgic vision of what it meant for these huge American juggernauts. But that was the place that you got validated. The birthplace of cinema — France — and you know, to this day, France for me represents, I think, the safest harbor for cinema.' With all Neon's success at Cannes, and in particular winning the Palme d'Or, the company later tests each of their films in the San Fernando Valley, and Quinn says increasingly the fact they won the Palme is the No. 1 driver of audience attendance at those previews. 'And you have to remember that a lot of voters, while it may only be sending jury members that sit on that committee in Cannes, they're all, if not the vast majority, also Academy voters. So, I think it makes perfect sense, combined with having a really nice lead time, to be able to build a significant campaign, to focus on the theatrical window, and position your film properly. So, each of these films have been released, essentially, the same release date in October. You know, I'm happy to share our playbook because it's so obvious.' In the case of Anora, he says they had not even tested the film before Cannes and had only seen it in early cuts. 'Winning the Palme d'Or, having been there four times previous, you know, we went in to do the work, the work that we do. We go and test the movie, we obviously combine that with where we are critically, and then we do an assessment of where the prognosticators sit, you know, the 80-plus prognosticators, where do they sit across the Oscar race?' he says. 'And so, all of those things collectively, in any one silo, may not mean a lot. But if you take that data set, and you compare it to four other movies, three of which have already been Best Picture nominees, one of which had won, you have a really good concept of where you're going. We knew back in July that this had a really strong path towards securing six Oscar nominations … And I have to say it was pretty stressful. You know, be careful what you wish for, and to hold steadfast, and be confident. It's a marathon. We went through the ebbs and flows of the campaign but always believed that we could get where we got to. So, getting these six Oscar nominations was a celebration, but also a relief that we weren't crazy back in July.' Quinn also credits Cannes premieres and wins in other categories for eventual success getting to the Oscars, such as the Best Actor win in Cannes for Perfect Days. which went on to be nominated for the International Feature Oscar, or the exposure for a sleeper, Robot Dreams, which cashed in goodwill at Cannes for a surprise Animated Feature Oscar nomination. He compared it to Flow, which was a hit in Cannes and went on to win this year's Animated Feature for indie partners Sideshow and Janus against huge, well-oiled competition from DreamWorks, Disney/Pixar and Netflix. Flow was also up for Best International Feature from first-timer Latvia. Does Quinn think the increased international voting bloc in the Academy is making a difference now and making it easier for Cannes to become such a big player? 'I think it's definitely a swing vote, but I would say it still only represents less than 25% of over 9,000 voters,' he says. 'The Academy overall has increased quite rapidly in size, but not just new international voters, but also younger voters. Regardless of age, newer voters, I think, are more energized and participate more, and watch more, and vote first. I would say that new membership, younger membership, overlaps I think pretty extensively with international membership, and it's having a big decisive impact on where these awards are going, because they watch the movies, because they are voting.' At any rate, there is no doubt we will be seeing a lot of Quinn and his Neon team all over Cannes, whether promoting the films they are bringing or looking to find the next Parasite and Anora that just might travel all the way from the Grand Théâtre Lumière in the South of France to the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. Best of Deadline Everything We Know About 'My Life With The Walter Boys' Season 2 So Far 'Bridgerton' Season 4: Everything We Know So Far Everything We Know About 'Wicked: For Good' So Far
Irish Examiner
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Battle for the coveted Palme d'Or will play out on the French Riviera
Cannes. That peculiar stretch of Riviera real estate that bursts into life every May. For some, it's all about the champagne and photo calls. For others, it's the battle for the Palme d'Or — a prize that has, of late, become a sort of cinematic oracle, whispering clues about the Oscars months ahead of schedule. Four of the last five Palme winners have gone on to Oscar nominations, and two — Bong Joon-ho's Parasite and the electric Anora — took home the top prize in Hollywood. That kind of clairvoyance makes Cannes less a film festival and more a weather vane for global taste. So, as the red carpets are unfurled along the Croisette and the flashbulbs start to pop, the speculation begins: who will claim cinema's most revered festival prize this year? Here are a six titles that may stake a claim for the Palme d'Or: Sentimental Value (director Joachim Trier) Danish filmmaker Joachim Trier came into prominence in 2021 with the magnificent The Worst Person in The World. The film, which dealt with the various sexual exploits of one Julie, premiered at Cannes where lead Renate Reinsve picked up the best actress award for her star-making turn. Trier's magnum opus even made it all the way to the Oscars where it was nominated for Best International Feature Film and Best Original Screenplay. Renate Reinsve in a scene from Joachim Trier's Sentimental Value. Picture: Kasper Tuxen With his follow up set to pack out the Theatre Lumiere, it's not unreasonable to think that Sentimental Value — a family drama steeped in Scandinavian melancholy — will take the big prize at this year's major European soirée de cinema. Reinsve returns, this time alongside Stellan Skarsgard who plays her ailing father, as she tries to navigate the complex paternal bond and loss of her mother. It seems ripe for a Cannes coronation. Sound of Falling (director Mascha Schilinski) Mascha Schilinski is a hitherto unknown entity but it's more than likely that won't be the case after Cannes 78. The German filmmaker comes to the Croisette with Sound of Falling, a title that has the gallery sitting up and taking notice. Schilinski's story — originally titled The Doctor Says I'll Be Alright, But I'm Feelin' Blue — surrounds four women on the same farm at various points in history, as they come to terms with the past and the dark secrets hidden beneath their hallowed turf. It's an ambitious structure — one that asks audiences to consider how time, memory, and trauma linger in physical spaces — and it is rare that a Cannes neophyte would cause such a stir. However, the word on the street is is truly special. Alpha (director Julia Ducournau) French director Julia Ducournau has tasted Palme gold before — only the second woman ever to win the Palme outright — for her thrillingly provocative, genre-blurring Titane. Whether that will work in her favour for this edition will have to be determined. The Parisienne is a mainstay on the Riviera, having debuted all of her films at the festival. This time around Ducournau presents Alpha, a story about a young girl living in a fictional city inspired by New York in the 1980s where an epidemic similar to HIV begins to affect her and her loved ones. Sex Education star Emma Mackey will play a supporting role, alongside young Mélissa Boros as the lead. Ducournau doesn't court comfort. In fact, she wields the grotesque like a scalpel. But past Cannes jurors have proven they aren't squeamish and with the legendary Juliette Binoche heading the jury, and a French filmmaker at centre stage, it's hard to ignore the possibility of a repeat coronation. Die My Love (director Lynne Ramsay) Lynne Ramsay is another Cannes constant. The Scottish maestro's latest, Die, My Love, was a late addition to the competition slate, but that has only built the intrigue around the film. Jennifer Lawrence in a scene from Lynne Ramsay's 'Die, My Love' Ramsay has teamed up with Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson for her latest project which sees Lawrence's character grappling with postpartum depression. Ramsay consistently walks her characters to the precipice of breaking point, forcing them to peer into the psychological abyss. On top of this, her films are often moving portraits of mental illness and trauma with powerfully evocative, often beautiful imagery. Die, My Love will inevitably be another one to add to the resumé. Nouvelle Vague (director Richard Linklater) Few filmmakers have shown as much formal curiosity and consistency as Austinite Richard Linklater. In Nouvelle Vague (or New Wave), the American director turns his lens toward the birth of the French New Wave, offering a dramatised account of the making of Breathless — a film that inarguably changed the course of cinema in the 20th century. Zoey Deutch stars as Jean Seberg, with newcomer Aubry Dullin playing screen icon Jean-Paul Belmondo. The film is said to blend historical recreation with Linklater's familiar interest in dialogue, character, and time. While Cannes juries can be unpredictable when it comes to English-language films, Linklater's sincere engagement with French film history, and his long-standing reputation as a thoughtful chronicler of cinema and youth, might make Nouvelle Vague a force to be reckoned with. The Secret Agent (director Kleber Mendonça Filho) Brazilian cinema is riding the crest of a wave after the success of I'm Still Here at the Oscars. Don't be surprised in the slightest if Kleber Mendonca Filho's The Secret Agent nicks the Palme. This political thriller looks to be intriguing with Wagner Moura ( Narcos, Civil War) playing the titular character, a teacher who returns to his home town of Recife in 1970's to find peace, only to come face to face with the conflict he sought to leave behind.
