A few contenders at Cannes Film Festival 2018

CAIRO – 17 April 2018: The Cannes Film Festival has announced its list of films competing for this year's edition, which will run from May 8 until May 19, 2018. Also notable is that films from Arab countries will be competing, including Egypt.

Here's a small sampling of what's to come at this year's Cannes Film Festival;

Yomeddine – Egypt, Abu Bakr Shawky

Abu Bakr Shawky's feature film debut is a story of a Coptic leper and an orphan he has taken under his wing, who leave the safety of their leper colony in order to find what little family they have left. This film marks Egypt's return in participating at the Cannes Film Festival after six years. Talking to the National, Shawky stated that: "I’m glad for the return of Egyptian cinema to the most prestigious section of the festival after the participation of "After The Battle", by Yousry Nasrallah, in 2012."

BlacKKKlansman – USA, Spike Lee

Co-produced by Get Out's "Jordan Peele", this latest feature from acclaimed American director and activist Spike Lee tells the true story of an African-American cop in 1978 who not only managed to infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan, but even managed to rise up in their ranks. John David Washington portrays the Police Officer while Adam Diver of Star Wars fame portrays his partner.

Under the Silver Lake – USA, David Robert Mitchell



Mitchell debuted in Cannes of 2014 with his critically acclaimed horror film "It Follows", and is now back with a stylish black comedy thriller revolving around a young man's attempts to find his crush, who vanishes mysteriously one night. Through a cryptic symbol he discovers in her empty house, the teen finds himself spiraling into a grand conspiracy in which the answer lies somewhere "under the silver lake." Andrew Garfield stars.

Solo: A Star Wars Story – USA, Ron Howard



Even though it's screening out of competition, this latest entry in the Star Wars franchise is still turning heads even if it isn't the first time a Star Wars film was shown at the Cannes Film Festival. Starring Alden Ehrenreich as the beloved space rogue Han Solo and Donald Glover as his partner in crime, Lando Calrissian, the film is a prequel that follows Solo's early days.

Girls of the Sun – France, Eva Hudson

This drama film follows a group of all-female Kurdish resistance fighters who aim to fight back against Syrian and Iraqi Jihadists. Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani is on-board the project as former Lawyer Bahar, who now leads a Yazidi Sun Brigade.

Capharnaum – Lebanon, Nadine Labaki

"Capharnaum" marks Labaki's third time as part of the Cannes Film Festival, though this is her first time submitting under the official competition's list. Due to it's late submission, little is actually known about the project so far, though according to the National, Labaki has stated that she is "proud and happy" to be bringing Lebanon under consideration for the Palme D'Or competition.