The prestigious La Résidence du Festival de Cannes has announced the six emerging directors selected for its 49th session. From March 15 to July 31, 2025, Flóra Anna Buda (Hungary), Andrea Gatopoulos (Italy), Xiwen Cong (China), Simon Maria Kubiena (Austria), Constance Tsang (USA), and Rodrigo Ribeyro (Brazil) will participate in the renowned residency program in Paris.
La Résidence du Festival de Cannes is a platform dedicated to nurturing young filmmakers as they develop their first or second feature film. Over the years, it has supported more than 250 directors from around 60 countries, many of whom have gone on to achieve international acclaim. Past alumni include celebrated filmmakers such as Lucrecia Martel (Argentina), Nadine Labaki (Lebanon), Carla Simón (Spain), and Payal Kapadia (India).
The selected filmmakers will receive personalized guidance, participate in industry networking sessions, and benefit from an immersive creative environment. Each of them brings a unique cinematic vision to the residency:
- Flóra Anna Buda (Hungary): An animator and filmmaker, Buda won the Palme d’Or at Cannes and the Cristal Award at Annecy in 2023 for her short film 27.
- Andrea Gatopoulos (Italy): A director and producer known for avant-garde cinema and AI-influenced storytelling, he made history with Happy New Year, Jim, the first machinima film at Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight.
- Xiwen Cong (China): A graduate of Beijing Film Academy, her short film Banished Love was showcased at the 77th Festival de Cannes and the Shanghai International Film Festival.
- Simon Maria Kubiena (Austria): A young filmmaker whose works have screened at the Berlinale and Premiers Plans d’Angers, currently developing his first feature, The Flowering of a Chimera.
- Constance Tsang (USA): A Columbia MFA graduate, her debut feature Blue Sun Palace premiered at Cannes’ Semaine de la Critique in 2024, winning the French Touch Prize.
- Rodrigo Ribeyro (Brazil): A filmmaker exploring societal and environmental themes, his short film Cantareira won at Cannes’ La Cinef and several Brazilian festivals.
Each of the filmmakers expressed their excitement and gratitude for being selected, recognizing the residency as a vital stepping stone in their careers. With a strong legacy of fostering cinematic talent, La Résidence du Festival de Cannes continues to serve as a launchpad for the next generation of visionary storytellers.