Forever the beacon of European film festivals, Cannes is the origin story for rising stars and the heartfelt home of distinguished directors. The line up of roughly 50 feature films and 10 short films uniquely mixes blockbusters with indie gems. Over the years, the Cannes film festival has graced audiences with films such as “Parasite” (dir. Bong Joon-ho ), “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” (dir. Celine Sciamma), and others, many of which have gone on to win Oscars. Ahead of Cannes’ 76th year, here are 5 films to keep a lookout for. 

1. “Killers of the Flower Moon”

Inspired by the book of the same namesake, Martin Scorsese’s new film is a page turner. The movie recounts the true story of an oil-rich Native American community in 1920s Oklahoma whose members mysteriously disappear only to end up dead. With a star filled cast with icons like Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone and recent Oscar winner Brendan Fraser, the movie is expected to bring a heartbreaking insight into a long forgotten piece of American history.

2. Asteroid City

“Asteroid City” is the latest addition to the overly saturated and highly curated catalog of Wes Anderson. Splashed with film favorites like Jason Schwartzman and Adrien Brody, and newcomers like Maya Hawke, Tilda Swinton, Steve Carrel, Hong Chau, and Margot Robbie, the film tells the story of attendees at a junior stargazer and space cadet convention in a desert town. Their lives are upended by the arrival of an alien. It is up to a set of eccentric students, parents and alien enthusiasts to determine the future of this run down town. 

3. The New Boy

Following her well crafted Oscar nominated role in “Tar,” Cate Blanchett takes on the role of a renegade nun who runs an isolated monastery in 1940s Australia. The nun’s peaceful life is disrupted when a nine year old Aboriginal orphan arrives in critical condition. What follows is a riveting tale of colonialism, spirituality and survival. 

4. Strange Way of Life

“The Strange Way of Life” is a Pedro Almodovar release. The half hour long queer western follows a sharif and a rancher, old friends, who reunite years after working together as gunslingers, though their reunion isn’t as much of a coincidence as they’d imagine. Starring Ethan Hawke and “The Last of Us” star Pedro Pascal, the release is said to be full of surprises and a beautifully sensitive exploration of masculinity in modern times. 

5. Monster

After winning the Palme d’Or with his previous film, “Shoplifters,” Hirokazu Kore-Eda returns to the world of cinema with his new film, “Monster”. The Rashomon-esque story is told from three perspectives: that of  a mother, teacher, and a young boy. Actors Sakura Ando and Eita Nagayama are said to have delivered knockout turns alongside the trailblazing scores of the late Ryuichi Sakamoto.