Last year’s Cannes winners saw significant success at the Oscars, with nine wins between films premiered at the festival. However, this year’s crop of contenders may face a tougher challenge due to language barriers. Three films, “Un Simple Accident,” “Sentimental Value,” and “Nouvelle Vague,” have strong best-picture potential but are primarily in languages other than English. Despite this, their prospects remain promising as the Oscars continue to grow more global.
Jafar Panahi’s “Un Simple Accident” is a moral drama about former Iranian prisoners who track down their old torturer. The film won the Palme d’Or and will be distributed by Neon, which has a proven track record of steering winners to Oscar glory. However, past experiences with Neon handling Cannes entries suggest that success may depend on strong campaigning.
The Norwegian drama “Sentimental Value” also has potential, starring Stellan Skarsgard as a filmmaker reconnecting with his estranged daughter. Its focus on acting and filmmaking could resonate with voters, while Skarsgard’s character woos a Hollywood actress in English, increasing the film’s chances. Director Richard Linklater’s “Nouvelle Vague” is another contender, a behind-the-scenes comedy about Jean-Luc Godard’s “Breathless,” which left Cannes empty-handed but has high-brow crowd-pleasing qualities.
Acting contenders include Jennifer Lawrence and Wagner Moura, who won the festival’s best-actor award. The international-feature race is likely to be crowded with Cannes breakouts, including Germany’s “Sound of Falling” and Nigeria’s “My Father’s Shadow.” While language barriers may pose a challenge, these films’ global appeal could help them secure nominations.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/26/movies/cannes-winners-oscars-un-simple-accident.html