Belgium’s Dardenne brothers in running for third Palme d’Or at Cannes Film Festival

Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne will present their new film Jeunes Mères at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, the prestigious event has announced.

The Belgian film directors’ latest film has been nominated for the festival’s Palme d’Or competition.

“Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne are returning to the selection,” said Cannes artistic director Thierry Frémaux, emphasising the word “return” in reference to this being their 10th film presented in competition at Cannes.

“We accompany Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne in this chronicle of what the world is becoming through the specific destinies of contemporary Belgium,” added Frémaux.

For their latest appearance at the Croisette, the Liège brothers delve into the story of five teenagers in a maternity home that is helping them adjust to their new lives as young mothers.

The pair belong to an exclusive club of directors who have received two Palmes d’Or thanks to Rosetta (1999) and L'Enfant (2005). Of the 13 feature films directed by the brothers, 11 have been presented at Cannes, including 10 in official competition.

The Palme d’Or is the highest prize awarded at the festival and represents a pinnacle of cinematic achievement. Winning it three times would further cement the Dardenne brothers’ already stellar legacy. No director in the history of the festival has ever achieved such a feat, which is only intensifying the anticipation surrounding the world premiere screening of Jeunes Mères. 

Also competing in the competition are Jafar Panahi’s Un simple accident, Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value, Kelly Reichardt’s The Mastermind, Richard Linklater’s Nouvelle Vague and Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme.

The Cannes Film Festival runs from 13 to 24 May in the French coastal resort.

Photo: ©Belga/James Arthur Gekiere