The Cannes Film Festival has added a final film to the competition, Bi Gan’s anticipated “Resurrection,” as well as Eugene Jarecki’s Julian Assange documentary “The Six Billion Dollar Man” in Special Screenings and Martin Bourboulon’s “13 Jours, 13 Nuits” out of competition.
The festival has also added Lise Akoka and Romane Gueret’s “Ma Frere” to Cannes Premiere.
“The Six Billion Dollar Man,” which follows Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, was pulled from Sundance earlier this year due to what Jareki described in a statement as “unexpected developments” in the story. The synopsis for “The Six Billion Dollar Man” reads: “Julian Assange faced a possible 175 years in prison for exposing U.S. war crimes until events took a turn in this landmark case.” Jareki previously won Sundance’s Grand Jury Prize twice, in 2005 for “Why We Fight” and again in 2012 for “The House I Live In.”
“Resurrection” is a sci-fi detective movie which marks Bi Gan‘s comeback to filmmaking and his return to Cannes after his 2018 film “Long Day’s Journey Into Night.”
The film stars Chinese-language actors Jackson Yee (“Better Days”) and Shu Qi (“The Assassin”). The film is set “in a world where humanity has lost the ability to dream,” according to its synopsis. “One creature remains entranced by the fading illusions of the dreamworld. This monster, adrift in reverie, clings to visions no one else can see — until a woman appears. Gifted with the rare power to perceive these illusions for what they truly are, she chooses to enter the monster’s dreams, determined to uncover the truth that lies hidden within.” Shan Zuolong, Yang Lele and Charles Gillibert produced the film, while Gan and Wan Juan are co-producing.
“13 Jours, 13 Nuits,” meanwhile, is a thriller set in the backdrop of the fall of Kabul and the takeover by the Taliban. It’s adapted from “13 days, 13 Nights, in the Hell of Kabul,” a sprawling real-life account of the events written by commander Mohamed Bida who oversaw the exfiltration of the French Embassy and the local population fleeing the new extremist regime. The film is produced by Chapter 2, a Mediawan company, and co-produced by Pathe which handles global distribution.
“Ma Frere,” meanwhile, marks Akoka and Gueret’s follow up to “The Worst Ones” which won Cannes’ Un Certain Regard Prize in 2022 and earned a Cesar nomination for best first film. The film revolves around two 19-year old best friends from a working class neighborhood in Paris who set off to lead a summer camp with young children. The movie stars young actors, including Shirel Nataf and Fanta Kebe.
As previously announced, Juliette Binoche will preside over the jury, while Robert De Niro will receive this year’s honorary Palme d’Or. The festival will take place from May 13 to 24.