Your Cannes Questions, Answered. Plus: Our Way-Too-Early Oscar Predictions

Cannes Film Festival isn't just a glamorous red carpet spectacle—it's a high-stakes global marketplace where films are sold, careers are launched, and Oscar dreams are ignited. In this episode, Rebecca Ford and John Ross from Vanity Fair’s Little Gold Men podcast unpack the festival’s complex structure, from the prestige of the Palme d’Or to the overlooked but vital 'Certain Regard' section, which has launched the careers of Ryan Coogler and others. They reveal that Cannes’ real power lies in its unique blend of international auteurism, the influential Marché du Film (the film market), and its growing impact on the Oscars—where films like Parasite and Anora have proven that Cannes success now directly translates to Academy gold. The hosts also offer a bold, way-too-early look ahead to the 2027 Oscars, predicting Dune Part 3 as a frontrunner due to its trilogy momentum, The Odyssey as a grand cinematic event with a star-studded cast, and Martin McDonagh’s Wild Horse 9 as a dark, twisty crowd-pleaser with Oscar potential. The episode is packed with insider tips, from surviving Cannes’ badge hierarchy to the island asylum that’s more tourist trap than mystery—and ends with a playful, high-stakes prediction that a Quentin Tarantino prequel to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood could get a surprise theatrical release.