Filmkrant reports for eleven days from the 81st Cannes Film Festival, where Quentin Dupieux's Le deuxième acte serves as the opening film, a choice that seems promising compared to predecessor Jeanne du Barry by Maïwenn. Dupieux, known for his absurdist films, brings an interesting dynamic to the festival with his latest work, which follows four French film stars. Cannes 2024 promises a rich program with films by Jia Zhangke, Andrea Arnold, David Cronenberg, Miguel Gomes, and Francis Ford Coppola. Despite high expectations, the festival faces criticism over the gender gap among directors and possible strikes and charges surrounding sexual abuse. Artistic director Thierry Fremaux appears to ignore controversies, while the festival also screens politically urgent films such as Mohammad Rasoulof's The Seed of the Sacred Fig.

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