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Julianne Moore in Critics’ Week opener

Prime places for first features in Cannes sidebar

by Richard Mowe

Finn Wolfhard and Julianne Moore make the sparks fly in Cannes Critics’ Week opening choice When You Finish Saving the World Photo: A24

The first selection by Ava Cahen, the new supremo of the Cannes Critics’ Week (La Semaine de la critique), reveals there are seven first features in the selection for the 61st edition.

Actor Jesse Eisenberg receives the privileged first place with his first film as a director When You Finish Saving The World starring Julianne Moore and Finn Wolfhard about a volatile mother-son relationship.

The closing film will be Next Sohee (Da-eum-so-hee), described as a feminist thriller, a second directorial outing for Korean director Jung July.

A quartet of French directors will be present with Alma Viva by the Franco-portuguese Cristèle Alves Meira (set in a strange and isolated village); Nos cérémonies by Simon Rieth about a respected and influential medium with Karim Leklou; and Tout le mode aime Jeanne by Céline Devaux (César winner for her short animation Le reps dominical in 2016) featuring the acting talents of Blanche Gardien and Laurent Lafitte.

Tunisian film-maker Kaouther Ben Hania (director of the Oscar nominated The Man Who Sold His Skin) will head up the jury whose ranks include Franco-Greek actress Ariane Labed; Busan Film Festival director Huh Moon-hung; Islandic director Benedikt Erlingsson and Belgian cameras Benoît Debie.

Full line-up

Opening film

When You Finish Saving the World by Jesse Eisenberg (first film)

Closing film

Next Sohee/Da-eum-so-hee by Jung July

Feature Competition

Aftersun by Charlotte Wells (first film)

Alma Viva by Cristèle Alves Meira (first film)

Love According to Dalva/Dalva by Emmanuelle Nicot (first film)

La Jauría by Andrés Ramírez Pulido (first film)

Summer Scars/Nos cérémonies by Simon Rieth (first film)

Imagine/Tasavor by Ali Behrad (first film)