Cannes 2010 Predictions (Competition Films): Leigh, Puiu, Inarritu, Kiarostami and Mikhalkov

We are in week 2 of the Berlin Film Festival, and I can think of no better time than to highlight the shape and form that the Cannes Film Festival might look like three months from now. Starting today, and moving all the way into Sunday, I’ll share my thoughts on the films that I think stand a better than fair chance at being part of the parallel line-ups.

I’ll first begin with the titles that should be part of the Main Competition, Out of Competition and Special Screenings, and commencing Friday, I’ll detail the harder to predict titles that we could find in the Un Certain Regard, Quinzaine (Director’s Fortnight) and Critic’s Week sections. Today’s first batch includes names such as Mike Leigh, Cristi Puiu, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Abbas Kiarostami and Nikita Mikhalkov (see pic for his latest film above).

Another Year — Mike Leigh
Leigh has presented only three film in Cannes, won Best Director for Naked and the Palme d’or for Secrets & Lies and though. I think there might be a better chance for this to be ready for Venice, his latest could slip in. Jim Broadbent, Imelda Staunton, David Bradley, Lesley Manville, Philip Davis and Karina Fernandez — the Flamenco Teacher in Happy-Go-Lucky star in this situational drama.

Aurora — Cristi Puiu
In 2001, Puiu presented his first film, the prize-winning Stuff and Dough in the Directors’ Fortnight, and then of course 2005 was his banner year with The Death of Mr. Lazarescu. Here Puiu plays a police inspector working in the Homicide Department.

Biutiful — Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
Already included in the “Cannes Club”, he has presented Amores Perros and Babel (Best Director) here. Javier Bardem stars in a story about a man embroiled in shady dealings who is confronted by a childhood friend, now a policeman. 

Le Bruit des glaçons (The Clink of Ice) — Bertrand Blier
Came to the festival several times as an actor, and presented four films so far with Les Côtelettes in 2003. Not sure at what point Blier is at in production, but this would see Jean Dujardin as an alcoholic writer is visited by an incarnation of his cancer. Update: this is still in pre-production. No chances at Cannes this year.

Carancho — Pablo Trapero 
Trapero brought El Bonaerense to the fest in 2002 and competed in the Main Comp in 2008 with Lion’s Den. If the main comp section is overbooked, then this could be bumped into the Un Certain Regard section. Martina Gusman plays a jailed woman who gives birth in prison and struggles to bring up her son with dignity.

The Certified Copy — Abbas Kiarostami
Granddaddy of the festival, he won the Rossellini Prize at Cannes for his career and got the Palme for 1997’s “The Taste of Cherries”. This sees French thesp Juliette Binoche paired up with an English author (William Shimell) who finds himself in Italy to promote his latest book and give a lecture on the subject of the relationship between originals and copies in the world of art.

Challenges of Reconciliation — Michael Henry Wilson
Cannes and France love Eastwood, and if Invictus had picked up more Oscar cred then this would be a more sought-after doc to show at the fest. However, if Eastwood shows up with his latest film, this doc (a behind-the-scenes look at Clint Eastwood’s vision of the South Africa forged by Nelson Mandela) could indeed receive a Special screening.

Crazy Horse — Frederick Wiseman
Wiseman went to the legendary Parisian cabaret club, founded in 1951 by Alain Bernardin, and filmed over 10 days. This should be a special screening at the fest this year.

The Exodus – The Fortress: Burnt By The Sun 2 — Nikita Mikhalkov
This rare sequel to his 1994 Grand Jury Prize winning film and would be a sixth time presenting at the fest. Taking place in post-war Russia, this revisits the characters of Mitya (Oleg Menshikov) and Col. Kotov (Nikita Mikhalkov) who were “killed” in the original film.

Tune in tomorrow for more!