Francis Ford Coppola is set to return to the Cannes Film Festival nearly 50 years after winning the Palme d’Or, with his self-financed epic “Megalopolis” set to premiere at the festival on May 17. The French festival has confirmed the screening of the film, which will be in competition, making the 85-year-old Coppola eligible for another shot at the prestigious accolade. Directed by Coppola and costing a reported $120 million, “Megalopolis” is a passion project that follows the rebuilding of a metropolis and features a star-studded cast including Adam Driver, Giancarlo Esposito, Jon Voight, and Dustin Hoffman.
The announcement of Coppola’s return to Cannes has been met with excitement and anticipation from both fans and festival organizers. Cannes chief Thierry Fremaux expressed his admiration for Coppola’s independent approach to making “Megalopolis,” which he considers an honor to welcome back to the festival. Fremaux is set to announce the official competition lineup on Thursday in Paris, where he hopes to program Coppola’s film among the prestigious selection. The news of “Megalopolis” screening in competition comes as Coppola has recently begun showing the film to friends and family, and is actively seeking distribution opportunities.
This will mark Coppola’s second time competing at Cannes, having previously won the Palme d’Or 45 years ago for “Apocalypse Now.” In addition to his Palme d’Or win, Coppola has also received critical acclaim for his films “The Conversation” and “The Godfather,” solidifying his place in cinematic history. With “Megalopolis,” Coppola returns to Cannes with a passion project that he has been developing since the early 1980s, showcasing his dedication to storytelling and filmmaking.
“Megalopolis” is just one of the many highly-anticipated premieres at the upcoming Cannes Film Festival, which is set to kick off on May 14. Other notable screenings include George Miller’s “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” and Kevin Costner’s “Horizon, an American Saga.” Additionally, George Lucas will be receiving an honorary Palme d’Or at the festival, celebrating his contributions to the world of cinema. With the lineup still to be officially announced, film enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the full list of films that will be showcased at this year’s Cannes Festival.
