The 2025 Cannes Film Festival has set the stage for an early start to the 2026 Academy Awards race, with Jennifer Lawrence Oscar contender for Die, My Love drawing significant attention after a highly acclaimed debut. As several new films and standout performances premiered on the French Riviera, industry pundits and critics are already eyeing potential nominees who could dominate the upcoming awards season.
A Surge of Awards Buzz for ‘Sentimental Value’
Among the most talked-about films at Cannes this year was Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value. Though expectations were high leading up to the festival, audience and critic reactions surpassed even those. The film earned a remarkable 19-minute standing ovation and was widely described as a masterpiece. Sentimental Value’s cast, including Renate Reinsve and Stellan Skarsgård, is anticipated to receive significant attention in acting categories, while predictions for best picture, director, and original screenplay seem almost guaranteed according to festival observers. This momentum positions both Trier and his team as major figures as the Oscar race unfolds.
Jennifer Lawrence Captivates Cannes with ‘Die, My Love’
Jennifer Lawrence’s star power was on full display during the Cannes premiere of Die, My Love, directed by Lynne Ramsay. The performance prompted a flurry of awards speculation, partly driven by Vanity Fair’s David Canfield posing the question,
“Is Jennifer Lawrence About to Win Another Oscar?”
The actress’s portrayal of a mother grappling with postpartum depression drew widespread critical praise, marking her as a major contender to return to the Academy Awards after a decade-long absence from the nominee list. Esther Zuckerman of The Daily Beast remarked,
“Cannes is a festival where Oscar narratives typically start to take shape, and while it’s far too early to make predictions, Lawrence has announced herself as an early frontrunner,”
—Esther Zuckerman, The Daily Beast.
While the overall critical response for Die, My Love was mixed—with some noting its challenging subject matter—the impact of Lawrence’s performance remained clear. Distribution rights were acquired by Mubi for an estimated $20 million, signaling strong belief in the film’s awards potential. This strategy draws parallels to recent success stories for Mubi, such as their handling of The Substance, which also premiered at Cannes and propelled Demi Moore into the Best Actress discussion. The combination of critical buzz and an aggressive awards campaign strategy could well put Lawrence at the forefront of Oscar conversations.
June Squibb Shines in ‘Eleanor the Great’
Veteran actress June Squibb stands poised to make history for her title role in Eleanor the Great, the first directorial effort from Scarlett Johansson. At 95, her performance has been described as possibly her best, with many critics agreeing that she brought unique depth to the film. Despite Eleanor the Great receiving mixed overall reviews, Squibb’s portrayals have positioned her as a likely favorite for Best Actress. Sony Pictures Classics will release the film in the fall, and the studio’s successful track record in positioning unexpected contenders, as demonstrated this year with Fernanda Torres in I’m Still Here, strengthens Squibb’s standing as Oscar season approaches.
Denzel Washington Impresses in ‘Highest 2 Lowest’
Spike Lee’s new thriller Highest 2 Lowest offered perhaps fewer conventional awards signals as a film, but the performances, particularly from Denzel Washington, generated substantial praise. Pete Hammond of Deadline noted,
“Washington is smooth as silk, delivering one of his best recent performances as a man caught in an impossible moral quandary,”
—Pete Hammond, Deadline. Matt Neglia of Next Best Picture added,
“It feels pointless to wax poetic about Denzel Washington’s immense talent, but it needs to be said here as the now 70-year-old living legend continues to prove time and time again why he is one of the greatest actors of all,”
—Matt Neglia, Next Best Picture.
While Washington missed out on a nomination for Gladiator II last year, his performance this year has reignited hopes among critics and fans alike. The competition in the Best Actor category is expected to be fierce, with names like Leonardo DiCaprio and Daniel Day-Lewis mentioned as possible contenders, but early hype keeps Washington squarely in the discussion for another Oscar bid.
Adam Stockhausen Garners Attention for ‘The Phoenician Scheme’
The creative team behind Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme, set to release soon, is already attracting Oscar talk, particularly for acclaimed production designer Adam Stockhausen. Having previously earned four nominations and a win for his work on The Grand Budapest Hotel, Stockhausen’s designs in Anderson’s latest film have been singled out by critics as some of his most impressive. Many festival-goers and reviewers declared The Phoenician Scheme to be Anderson’s strongest work since his 2014 classic, which boosts the likelihood that Stockhausen will again land in the awards conversation.
Richard Linklater’s ‘Nouvelle Vague’ Draws Industry Interest
Richard Linklater’s new French-language feature, Nouvelle Vague, centered on the creation of Jean-Luc Godard’s Breathless, debuted to polite accolades. Despite lacking a distributor, some commentators already see parallels to The Artist, which previously won Best Picture. Shot in black-and-white, Nouvelle Vague’s focus on filmmaking history and artistry is likely to resonate with Academy members who appreciate stories celebrating cinema itself. This gives the project potential for future Oscar consideration, pending wider release and additional momentum.
The landscape set by Cannes this year makes clear that Jennifer Lawrence Oscar contender for Die, My Love is not just a headline, but a central theme as industry watchers and critics set their sights on the awards race ahead. With veteran talent like June Squibb and Denzel Washington also drawing intense speculation, the journey toward the 2026 Oscars promises high drama and passionate debate. As studios begin planning their awards campaigns, all eyes remain on these standout performances and films marked by emotional depth and creative ambition.
