Cannes Film Fest 2016: Official Selection

Cannes festival president Pierre Lescure and artistic director Thierry Fremaux unveiled the official selection of the 2016 edition, which runs May 11-22..

UN CERTAIN REGARD

“After the Storm” (Hirokazu Kore-eda, Japan).

Kore-ada’s latest is a smaller film than last year’s “Our Little Sister,” focusing on a washed up writer trying to make amends with his elderly mother and ex-wife in order to reconnect with his young son.

“Apprentice” (Boo Junfeng, Singapore).

Six years after his debut, “Sandcastle,” premiered in Critics’ Week, the director delivers this intense prison-set drama, about a young correctional officer who finds himself befriending — and possibly being positioned to replace — the resident executioner.

“Beyond the Mountains and Hills” (Eran Kolirin, Israel).

Kolirin screened one of his films in Un Certain Regard, the 2007 “The Band’s Visit,” which won the FIPRESCI prize.

“Captain Fantastic” (Matt Ross, U.S.).

Viggo Mortensen plays an anti-establishment dad who raises his children in an American forest, until his wife’s death forces the family to engage with the capitalist society he abhors.

“Clash” (Mohmaed Diab, Egypt).

From the director of “Cairo 678,” this drama takes place entirely inside an overcrowded police truck packed with pro-and anti-Muslim Brotherhood demonstrators after a massive protest following the events of July 3, 2013, as crowds celebrated the ouster of prexy Mohamed Morsi.

“The Dancer” (Stephanie Di Giusto, France).

This 19th-century drama, a directorial debut, focuses on the life of American performer Loie Fuller, featuring two rising stars: French musician-turned-thesp Soko, who plays Fuller, and Lily Rose-Depp, who plays Isadora Duncan.

“The Disciple” (Kirill Serebrennikov, Russia).

Last seen in Venice Fest where his 2012 feature “Betrayal” bowed in competition, the Russian helmer studied physics before turning his attention to drama, dividing his attention between film, TV and theater.

“Dogs” (Bogdan Mirica, Romania).

This debut feature concerns a city boy stuck trying to unload a patch of rural land inherited from his late grandfather, only to discover that the old man was once a local crime lord — which severely complicates his intention of selling the property, especially after a severed foot gives the local cop reason to retaliate on the gang.

“The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Maki” (Juho Kuosmanen, Finland).

Set in 1962 Helsinki, this black-and-white, comedy-laced drama follows the rise and fall of Finnish boxer Olli Maki, who fought the match of his life against the American world champion while obsessing about getting back with his girlfriend.

“Harmonium” (Fukada Koji, Japan).

The director’s sixth feature follows the owner of a small workshop in a Japanese country village whose tranquil family life is turned upside down after he hires an old acquaintance and takes him under his wing.

“Inversion” (Behnam Behzadi, Iran).

“The Long Night of Francisco Sanctis” (Andrea Testa, Argentina).

“Pericles the Black Man” (Stefano Mordini, Italy).

Directed by Stefano Mordini (“Steel”), this noir — adapted from Italian novel by Giuseppe Farrandino — stars Riccardo Scamarcio (“My Brother is an Only Child”) as a slave-like hit man who disengages from the shackles of the mob world after meeting a woman.

“Personal Affairs” (Maha Haj, Israel).

“The Red Turtle” (Michael Dudok de Wit, Netherlands).

Studio Ghibli’s first international co-production is a creative collaboration between the Dutch-British director (an Oscar winner for his “Father and Daughter” short) and Isao Takahata. The film was scripted by “Bird People’s” Pascale Ferran.

“The Stopover” (Delphine Coulin, Muriel Coulin, France)

The sophomore feature from the directors of “17 Girls” follows two girls who stop over in Cyprus for three days on their way home from Afghanistan.

“The Transfiguration” (Michael O’Shea, U.S.).

This directorial debut from an American director was described by Fremaux as “a New York vampire story.” Larry Fessenden plays the blood-sucker in question.