The 79th Cannes Film Festival has expanded its Official Selection with 16 new titles, including James Gray’s ‘Paper Tiger’ and Judith Godrèche’s directorial debut.
CANNES, France — The organisers of the 79th Cannes Film Festival have unveiled a significant new wave of titles for the Official Selection, bringing a burst of fresh creative energy to one of cinema’s most prestigious stages.
Among the additions are James Gray’s Paper Tiger — a late entry secured for the Competition lineup — alongside Judith Godrèche’s long-anticipated directorial debut, A Girl’s Story. The expansion also includes the darkly titled Victorian Psycho, directed by Zachary Wigon, and a teen mermaid drama that has already generated considerable buzz on the festival circuit. Christophe Honoré’s Orange-Flavoured Wedding was also confirmed among the new Un Certain Regard and Special Screening additions.
The announcement brings to more than 75 the total number of titles currently attached to this year’s Official Selection, which was first unveiled at the festival’s traditional Paris press conference several weeks ago.
Gray, whose previous credits include Ad Astra and Armageddon Time, marks a return to the Croisette with Paper Tiger, a project that has been closely guarded throughout production. Godrèche, the French actress turned filmmaker who made headlines internationally in 2024 for her outspoken advocacy on abuse in the film industry, is making her feature directorial debut with A Girl’s Story — a project many observers are calling one of the most personally significant films in the festival’s lineup.
The Cannes Film Festival is scheduled to run from May 13 through May 24, with the prestigious Palme d’Or ceremony closing the event. This year’s competition jury lineup and Critics’ Week jury — the latter headed by Palme d’Or-winning director Payal Kapadia — have already been announced.
The market arm of the festival, the Marché du Film, runs May 12–20, and Screen International reports it is already tracking a large slate of major packages being launched both before and during the event. Industry observers say the expanded selection signals a strong year for arthouse cinema, with international co-productions featuring prominently.
For Gray, whose Armageddon Time premiered at Cannes in 2022 to strong reviews, a return to Competition would represent one of his most high-profile festival appearances in years. Godrèche’s presence, meanwhile, carries significant cultural weight following her role as a catalyst for broader conversations about gender and power in European film industries.
The addition of Victorian Psycho — Wigon’s follow-up to his critically admired Sanctuary — further cements the festival’s interest in genre-inflected art cinema, a trend that has grown steadily over the past several years.
Full details on screening schedules and additional Official Selection titles are expected to be released in the coming days as the festival finalizes its program.
