French-Moroccan director Sofia Alaoui is among selected filmmakers.
Cannes has announced the six filmmakers selected for its annual Résidence programme. Now in its 48th edition, the programme runs from October 1, 2024, until February 15, 2025. Launched in 2000, the Residence programme holds two sessions per year and has hosted more than 250 filmmakers from 60 countries.
This year’s crop of rising talents includes four female filmmakers. Among them are French-Moroccan director Sofia Alaoui, a ‘2022 Screen Arab Star of Tomorrow’ and ‘2023 Unifrance 10 to Watch’ talent. Alaoui’s debut feature Animalia won the 2023 Sundance special jury prize. Other participants include Lithuanian director Eglé Razumaite whose latest short Ootidé competed at Cannes 2024; India’s Diwa Shah, whose directorial Bahadur: The Brave screened at San Sebastián; and Germany’s Anastasia Veber known for the short Trap which won a Berlin Golden Bear in 2022.
Rounding out the selected directors are Australian Berlin-based director Rudolf Fitzgerald-Leonard and Colombian director Theo Montoya whose first feature Anhell69 premiered at Venice Critics Week. All the selected directors will attend the 78th Cannes Film Festival to be held from May 13 to 24, 2025.
