2012 Cannes Film Festival Predictions: 7 Days in Havana

Gist: Produced by Spain’s Morena Films and sold by Wild Bunch, we’ve got seven short films representing the seven days of the week in the sun-bleached Havana backdrop filmed by seven filmmakers in Palme d’or winning helmer Laurent Cantet, Benicio Del Toro, Julio Medem, Gaspar Noé, Elia Suleiman, Juan Carlos Tabío and Pablo Trapero, or eight…if you’re counting Emir Kusturica (lead actor in Trapero’s film). “Emblematic Havana landmarks form the backdrop to the chapters in which several characters appear more than once, organically connecting the narratives and demonstrating that in Havana all social spheres intersect.” Friday is the one film we look forward to the most.

Prediction: They usually don’t do well in their theatrical release, but the omnibus are generally well-regarded on the fest circuit. In previous editions, Cannes ordered a birthday gift for itself for its 60th (with the 33 filmmaker line-up of renowned greats in, To Each His Own Cinema) and the Un Certain Regard section displayed the city of lights with Paris, je t’aime. Having premiered in Havana late in the calendar year and by bypassing Berlin, we think 7 Days in Havana will be toasting to an international preem with daiquiris in hand on the Croisette with what could either be, a Special/Out of Competition screening or a competish showing in the Un Certain Regard section.