Scarlett Johansson is set to take centre stage at this year’s Cannes Film Festival

Scarlett Johansson is set to take centre stage at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, both as a leading actress and a first-time director, as organisers unveiled a star-studded and socially conscious line-up on Thursday.

The Oscar-nominated actress stars alongside Benicio Del Toro and Tom Hanks in Wes Anderson’s highly anticipated competition entry The Phoenician Scheme, one of roughly 20 films vying for the prestigious Palme d’Or.

Johansson will also present her directorial debut, Eleanor the Great, in the “Un Certain Regard” section — a sidebar known for showcasing emerging voices. The film follows an elderly woman navigating grief after the death of her lifelong friend.

At a press conference in Paris, Cannes President Iris Knobloch emphasized the festival’s renewed commitment to gender equality and safer industry practices, in light of a damning French parliamentary inquiry into sexual abuse and harassment in the entertainment sector.

“Women are no longer asking for their place, they are taking it,” Knobloch declared. “We are honoured to amplify their voices and highlight the talent that challenges and expands our view of the world.”

Still, out of the 20 films in the main competition, only six are directed by women — a stark reminder of the lingering gender imbalance.

Breaking new ground, the festival will open on May 13 with Leave One Day, a debut feature from French director Amélie Bonnin — the first time a first-time filmmaker has been granted the honour.

A-List Competition
This year’s competition includes heavyweights of global cinema. Wes Anderson returns alongside Iranian auteur Jafar Panahi, Belgian siblings Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, and American indie icon Richard Linklater.

Panahi, long persecuted by Iranian authorities and previously jailed for his work, will screen his latest film A Simple Accident — though few details were shared at his request, due to political sensitivities.

Other entries include Eddington, a psychological horror from genre newcomer Ari Aster, starring Joaquin Phoenix, and Kelly Reichardt’s heist drama The Mastermind, with John Magaro in the lead role.

France will be well represented, with Palme d’Or-winning filmmaker Julia Ducournau (Titane) back in contention, alongside Cedric Klapisch and Hafsia Herzi.

Juliette Binoche, a luminary of French cinema, will head this year’s jury, succeeding last year’s president Greta Gerwig.

Beyond the competition, Cannes will also honour Robert De Niro with an honorary Palme d’Or. Tom Cruise is expected to attend the world premiere of the final Mission: Impossible film, adding to the festival’s A-list draw.

Documentaries & Global Perspectives
In the documentary section, notable entries include Bono: Stories of Surrender, chronicling the U2 frontman’s career, and Orwell, Haitian director Raoul Peck’s deep dive into the life and legacy of British writer George Orwell.

Palestinian twins Tarzan and Arab Nasser return with Once Upon a Time in Gaza, a story of murder and friendship in the embattled territory, also screening in the “Un Certain Regard” category.

Festival Under Scrutiny
The lead-up to Thursday’s announcement was overshadowed by a parliamentary report that found “systemic, endemic, and persistent” abuse in the French cultural sector. The six-month inquiry included testimonies from actors, directors, and industry professionals, reigniting debate over accountability and reform.

Green MP Sandrine Rousseau, who led the inquiry, called on Cannes to be a “catalyst for change.”

“The Cannes Film Festival must be the place where this shift in mindset happens,” she said. “Amid the glitter and the red carpets, we must declare that every one of us, at every level of the industry, wants things to change.”

Adding further tension, the festival’s opening day will coincide with the verdict in the high-profile sexual assault trial of Gérard Depardieu. The legendary actor has been accused of assaulting two women on a 2021 film set — allegations he denies.

As the world’s most prestigious film festival prepares to roll out the red carpet, Cannes 2025 looks set to balance glamour with gravitas, star power with societal reflection.