Cannes Chief Thierry Fremaux Breaks Down 2023 Lineup: Jonathan Glazer’s Surprise Film, Convincing Martin Scorsese to Enter Competition and Johnny Depp Controversy

Cannes Film Festivals longtime director Thierry Fremaux sat down with Variety following the announcement of this years lineup, which includes a bevy of star-studded period movies, including Martin Scorseses highly anticipated Killers of the Flower Moon, Karim Anouzs Firebrand and Jonathan Glazers Zone of Interest. Along with a raft of politically-minded films, theres also a record six movies directed by female helmers in competition, including newcomers like Senegalese direcotr Ramata-Toulaye Sys feature debut Banel et Adama.

Fremaux said his only regret this year is to miss out on Oppenheimer and Barbie, but hes keeping high hopes to convince Scorsese to vie for a second Palme dOr 47 years after winning his first with Taxi Driver. He also revealed that as many as two or three movies are expected to be added to the competition next week, after Directors Fortnight and Critics Week announce their respective lineups.

How late did you make your last phone call last night?

We went to bed late, but slightly earlier than usual.Were going to add more films in a few days.

You did manage to keep a few surprises like Jonathan Glazers A24 movie Zone of Interest, his first film since Under My Skin.

Yes, Jonathan is a great filmmaker whose work we follow, and I especially follow him because I love the work of the writer Martin Amis. The film is freely adapted from Amis novel, which is personal. Its quite a challenging film because its in German and Polish. And it shows also that A24 continues to propose this genre of cinema. Martin Scorseses film is also along the lines of big, popular yet director-driven films of the past, like David Lean and Cecil B. DeMille.

These movies are part of a tradition of filmmaking.

As I was saying this morning, the world has changed because theres been a pandemic and the arrival of streamers, and the film industry was shaken up but Ive always thought that it would be saved by its artists. And this selection is all about artists proposing singular objects. Cinema objects which come from everywhere, from every country and from every generation.

You said during the presser that it was the most internationally diverse official selection. Is that true?

Yes I think it is, in terms of countries represented. Aside from France, the U.S. and Italy which have many films, we have a lot more countries in the mix.

It seems therere less French films.

For now maybe, but there will be a few when we add films.

You said before that the challenge for Cannes is to secure independent American films to come. Is that still the case?

Its not just the independent cinema, its the films from auteurs in general because these films always have the potential of campaigning for the Oscars. So there are some filmmakers who are discovered at Cannes and naturally when they become much better known they tend to have their movies released in the fall. I was talking about Steve McQueen for instance who was at Cannes with Hunger and then had his movies released in the fall. At the same time, we never stopped luring Quentin Tarantino and the Coen brothers who come to Cannes and have their movies launched in theaters in the fall. But coming to Cannes is expensive and that means two campaigns, in May and in October.

Not every one has Apples resources. Speaking of which, do you think Scorseses movie could be bumped to the competition?

When we saw the film back in November and when we invited it, it was an Apple movie. The situation has changed now that Apple has announced that it will be released in theaters everywhere, including in France, on Oct. 19. That means it qualifies for the Cannes competition since, as you know, all films competing must have a theatrical release. So I told Apple and Martin Scorsese that considering how great the movie is, its obviously invited in competition. And now Im waiting to hear their decision. We have until the last minute.

Dont you think Scorsese is too much of a legend to compete at Cannes?

Thats very interesting because when Fellini won the Palme dOr for La Dolce Vita, he said Im not coming back in competition, and Marty won the Palme dOr in 1976. So obviously one could say, he doesnt have much to gain considering his prestigious status. Expect one thing: the Palme dOr. I think he should come in competition.

The movie is 3 hours and 45 minutes long, do you think the length could be an issue?

I dont know what the final length is, but lets say that for me its not an issue. All I know is that its only five minutes more than Once Upon a Time in America.

A lot of films in competition are from foreign directors making films with American stars.

Yes, Cannes reflects the state of world cinema production and its true that very often directors are drawn to making films in English because the U.S. is such a great country for cinema. Like Pedro Almodovar, who is making another film in English.

I was surprised that Maiwenn isnt in competition, since her last two movies competed.

Thats because its the opening night film and last year as well the opening film wasnt in competition.

Does it have something to do with the fact that shes being sued?

Not at all, because we didnt know about it when we invited the film out of competition.

Jeanne du Barry will mark the big comeback of Johnny Depp in a film. Some say its a controversial choice for an opening night movie.

I dont see Maiwenns film as a controversial choice at all, because if Johnny Depp had been banned from working it would have been different, but thats not the case. We only know one thing, its the justice system and I think he won the legal case. But the movie isnt about Johnny Depp.

There are so many period movies in this selection.

Its true. Is it a coincidence or a collective inspiration? But each of them talks about today, even if theyre historical films. Maiwenns movie, for instance, is about the place of women in politics. Jonathan Glazers movie as well, is a historical film that takes place in Auschwitz. That said, they are not academic, historical movies. Theyre not one way journeys across history, theyre roundtrips.

Would you say its a politically charged selection?

Id say that almost every film talk societal problems. Its a very politically minded selection. Even Martin Scorseses film is about the relationship between Native Americans and white people, but in the 1920s. It explores our own moral sense, our humanity, our courage when faced with a situation where we have to say no.

Youve broken your own record with six films from female directors.

These six films are in competition because of their quality. What were seeing is that the stronger presence of female directors means that world cinema is changing, because it brings another perspective, one of women. For decades, we saw mens outlook on everything and everyone, and now were seeing women depicting male and female characters in a different way. Bringing more women in competition is part of our global effort to achieve more diversity and parity and were also trying to reach a balance in terms of generations. We also see more female directors from emerging countries, from North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa and thats a hell of a great news. And there will be more female directors added to the official selection!

French directors, I bet.

Its true that there are always many female directors among the French contingent. We just announced three French movies in competition and two of them are directed by women. Last year, over four French films, three of them were directed by women.

Any chance youll add Oppenheimer?

Unfortunately no, I would have loved [that] but its being released at the end of the year as part of their awards strategy. My two regrets this year are Oppenheimer and Barbie, but it wont be ready either by May.