2018 Cannes: Directors’ Fortnight brings ‘Birds of Passage,’ Debra Granik’s ‘Leave No Trace’

[divider style=”normal” top=”20″ bottom=”20″]
The 50th edition of the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight will open with Cristina Gallego and Ciro Guerra’s Birds of Passage. This is Guerra’s follow-up to his Oscar-nominated foreign language film Embrace of the Serpent, which represented Colombia. Birds tells the story of an indigenous family who embarks on the drug trade in 1970s Colombia.
Debra Granik’s Leave No Trace, which debuted at Sundance and recently played the San Francisco International Film Festival, is the sole U.S. entry in this year’s directors’ fortnight (last year had five American films). Another drugged-induced fever dream from Gaspar Noé will be seen, Climax. Nicolas Cage shows up in Mandy from Panos Cosmatos about a man hunting down a religious sect responsible for death of the love of his life, which sounds like the most Nicolas Cage-y setup possible.
Mirai, from director Mamoru Hosada will be the first Japanese animation film to world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.
Martin Scorsese will receive the honorary Carrosse d’Or (Golden Coach) award at this year’s Directors’ Fortnight.
The full lineup of feature films for Directors’ Fortnight:
Pajaros De Verano (Birds Of Passage), Cristina Gallego, Ciro Guerra
Amin, Philippe Faucon
Climax, Gaspar Noé
Carmen y Lola, Arantxa Echevarria
Comprame un Revolver, Julio Hernandez Cordon
Les Confins du Monde, Guillaume Nicloux
El Motoarrebatador, Agustin Toscano
En Liberté, Pierre Salvadori
Joueurs, Marie Monge
Leave No Trace, Debra Granik
Los Silencios, Beatriz Seigner
Ming Wang Xing Shi Ke De, Ming Zhang
Mandy, Panos Cosmatos
Mirai, Mamoru Hosoda
Le Monde Est à Toi, Romain Gavras
Petra, Jaime Rosales
Samouni Road, Stefano Savona
- London Critics’ Circle (LCC) Awards: ‘One Battle After Another’ Takes Film, Director, Screenwriting, Supporting Actor Wins - February 1, 2026
- Frontrunner Friday Oscar Predictions: We Need to Talk About ‘Marty’ - January 30, 2026
- 2026 Sundance Film Festival: ‘Josephine’ Wins Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award - January 30, 2026

London Critics’ Circle (LCC) Awards: ‘One Battle After Another’ Takes Film, Director, Screenwriting, Supporting Actor Wins
Frontrunner Friday Oscar Predictions: We Need to Talk About ‘Marty’
2026 Sundance Film Festival: ‘Josephine’ Wins Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award
Director Watch Podcast Ep. 137 – ‘Je Tu Il Elle’ (Chantal Akerman, 1974)