The Cannes Film Festival 2025 has officially kicked off, showcasing an electrifying mix of international auteurs, fresh debuts, and cinematic risk-takers in its Official Selection. With 22 films vying for the prestigious Palme d’Or, this year’s lineup is one of the most daring and diverse in recent memory.

From Richard Linklater’s nostalgic homage to the French New Wave to a politically charged thriller from Brazil’s Kleber Mendonça Filho, the 2025 selection proves Cannes is still the beating heart of global cinema.

Here are some of the standout picks from the 2025 Cannes Film Festival Official Selection.

Nouvelle Vague – Richard Linklater

Linklater delivers a cinephile’s dream with this reimagining of the French New Wave’s birth. Shot in black and white and in French, the film pays tribute to À bout de souffle, with a layered, meta-narrative that has critics buzzing.

Sentimental Value – Joachim Trier

Trier’s family dramedy reunites him with Renate Reinsve and blends emotional weight with charming wit. The story follows a fractured family navigating love, loss, and generational trauma with Trier’s signature sensitivity.

The Secret Agent – Kleber Mendonça Filho

Set during the final years of Brazil’s dictatorship, this tense thriller explores espionage, betrayal, and moral compromise. Wagner Moura leads a stellar cast in what could be a Palme contender.

The Young Mothers’ Home – Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne

True to their roots in social realism, the Dardenne brothers spotlight a facility for teen mothers in Belgium. This quiet, powerful film is already being praised for its humanist lens and understated drama.

While the Official Selection is Cannes’ artistic centerpiece, one of the most talked-about events came outside of competition—the world premiere of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, starring Tom Cruise. Even out of competition, The Final Reckoning received a five-minute standing ovation, solidifying Cruise’s place as a global cinematic icon.