‘The Second Act’ to Kick Off Cannes Festival with Léa Seydoux

The 77th Cannes Film Festival is set to kick off with the world premiere of Quentin Dupieux’s latest film, “Le Deuxième Acte” (The Second Act), starring Léa Seydoux and Vincent Lindon. The French director’s surreal comedy will debut out of competition on May 14 and will be released in French cinemas on the same day. Dupieux and his cast will grace the red carpet at the Grand Théâtre Lumière to launch the film and the prestigious Cannes Film Festival.

Cannes organizers lauded Dupieux for his extensive body of work, which includes 13 feature films in 17 years, describing him as a director who has established the absurd as a genre in its own right. “The Second Act” is noted as a prime example of his innovative and unconventional approach to filmmaking.

In other Cannes news, Greta Gerwig, director of the upcoming film “Barbie,” has been named as the Cannes jury president for 2024, making her only the second female director to hold this position after Jane Campion in 2014.

Before making a mark in the film industry, Dupieux was known as a French electronic artist under the alias Mr. Oizo. He transitioned into screenwriting and directing with a series of music videos and quirky features like “Rubber” in 2011, known for its unique premise of a killer tire. His film “Deerskin” opened the Directors’ Fortnight lineup at Cannes in 2019, while “Smoking Causes Coughing” debuted out of competition in Cannes in 2022.

Dupieux’s film “Yannick,” a satire exploring the relationship between high culture, low-brow critics, and the blend of art and entertainment, earned the Europa Cinemas Label prize for best European film at the 76th Locarno Film Festival.

The 77th Cannes Film Festival will take place from May 14 to May 25, 2024, promising a showcase of diverse and innovative films from around the world.