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The Australian Oscar winner stars alongside Colin Farrell in
two movies in competition: "The Beguiled", an American Civil
War-era story directed by Sofia Coppola, and "The Killing of a
Sacred Deer" by Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos, best known for
2015's critically acclaimed "The Lobster".
Kidman also stars in two screenings at Cannes that are not in
competition: science fiction romantic comedy "How to Talk to
Girls at Parties" and an episode of Jane Campion's TV series
"Top of the Lake".
Spanish director Pedro Almodovar will chair the jury at the
festival that runs from May 17 to May 28, a time when concerns
are high about security and potential political upheaval.
It is the first Cannes Film Festival since the truck attack in
the nearby city of Nice last July, and it will take place days
after the final round of voting in France's presidential
election, where the far-right's Marine Le Pen is expected to
make a strong showing.
The festival organizers played down security concerns, but
conceded that the event was taking place at a time of great
"suspense".
"Since we have a new surprise every day from Donald Trump, I
hope North Korea or Syria will not cast a shadow," Festival
President Pierre Lescure told a news conference at a cinema on
the Champs Elysees in Paris.
Among the big-name directors vying for the Palme d'Or are Michel
Hazanavicius, whose silent movie "The Artist" won Best Film,
Best Director and Best Actor at the 2012 Oscars.
American Todd Haynes, director of "Carol", will premiere
"Wonderstruck", starring Julianne Moore, and Austria's Michael
Haneke will present "Happy End", probably an ironic title for a
drama about the refugee crisis, set in Calais.
Also addressing the refugee issue will be a film by Vanessa
Redgrave, "Sea Sorrow", to be shown out of competition.
Another global political problem - climate change - will be the
theme of "An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power" a follow-up to
Al Gore's 2006 documentary "An Inconvenient Truth".
"The festival isn't political," said the event's director,
Thierry Fremaux. "It is the auteurs that are political, it is
the filmmakers that are political. We are very proud to present
this film."
The full line up can be seen here: http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/press/press-articles/communique/articles/the-2017-official-selection
(Writing by Robin Pomeroy; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
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