Spike Lee’s ‘Highest 2 Lowest’ to Premiere at Cannes Film Festival
Renowned director Spike Lee recently announced that his highly anticipated film, Highest 2 Lowest, featuring the illustrious Denzel Washington, has received an invitation to the prestigious 2025 Cannes International Film Festival. This revelation emerged shortly after the formal announcement of the festival lineup by Thierry Frémaux, Cannes delegate general, and president Iris Knobloch.
Cannes Lineup Announcement
The Cannes Festival’s official selection was unveiled during a press conference in Paris, showcasing an exciting array of films. Among the notable titles are:
- The Phoenician Scheme by Wes Anderson
- Nouvelle Vague by Richard Linklater
- Eddington by Ari Aster
Spike Lee’s Delightful Update
Just an hour following the press conference, Lee took to Instagram to share the exciting news: “Bon Jour. Good Morning. Whaddup❓Da New SPIKE LEE JOINT-HIGHEST 2 LOWEST Starring My Brother DENZEL WASHINGTON Has Been Invited To Da 2025 CANNES INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (In The Out Of Competition Category),” accompanied by a stylized image that celebrates his film’s inclusion.
Film Details and Background
Highest 2 Lowest presents an English-language reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa’s iconic 1963 film High and Low, which itself is loosely based on the 1959 novel King’s Ransom. The cast shines with talents including Ilfenesh Hadera, Jeffrey Wright, Ice Spice, and ASAP Rocky. Fans can look forward to its theatrical release via A24, followed by availability on Apple TV+.
Competitive Titles at Cannes
In typical Cannes fashion, additional titles might be announced as the festival approaches. Frémaux did hint at the omission of a title during the lineup announcement. This year’s festival will feature a compelling variety of established filmmakers, such as:
- Kelly Reichardt – returning with The Mastermind, an art-heist narrative featuring Josh O’Connor and John Magaro set against the Vietnam War backdrop.
- Joachim Trier – who follows his 2021 success with Sentimental Value, starring Renate Reinsve.
- Jafar Panahi – the acclaimed Iranian director returns with his new drama, A Simple Accident.
Additionally, Scarlett Johansson and Harris Dickinson will mark their directorial debuts at this year’s festival, alongside a record-breaking 2,909 films screened during the selection process.
Looking Ahead
With such a remarkable lineup anticipated for the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, excitement continues to build. For further details on the full festival lineup, please visit the official Cannes website.