Spike Lee's latest cinematic endeavor, "Highest 2 Lowest," a star-studded affair featuring Denzel Washington, has secured a coveted out-of-competition premiere at the esteemed Cannes Film Festival, as officially confirmed by the festival authorities. This English-language redux of Akira Kurosawa's iconic 1963 Japanese crime classic, "High and Low," was not initially disclosed among the official selections unveiled by Cannes delegate general Thierry Frémaux and president Iris Knobloch during a Thursday morning press conference in Paris.
However, mere moments after the press conference concluded, Lee himself broke the thrilling news via Instagram with characteristic verve: "Bonjour, Good Morning! Whaddup? My new joint, 'HIGHEST 2 LOWEST,' starring my brother Denzel Washington, has been invited to the 2025 CANNES INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL – Out of Competition Category!" he exclaimed, accompanied by an embroidered piece that proclaimed, "Highest 2 Lowest 2 Cannes."
The film boasts an illustrious cast including Denzel Washington, Ilfenesh Hadera, Jeffrey Wright, Ice Spice, and A$AP Rocky, and is poised for a grand theatrical release with A24 before making its way to Apple TV+.
The Cannes Film Festival substantiated to The Hollywood Reporter that "Highest 2 Lowest" would indeed make its debut out of competition along the Croisette. The festival revealed they had been awaiting final confirmation of Denzel Washington's attendance, who is currently captivating Broadway audiences with his portrayal of Othello. The screening is slated for Monday, May 19, a traditional off-day for Broadway performers, ensuring both Washington and Lee's presence at the "Highest 2 Lowest" premiere.
The 2025 competition lineup is a powerhouse assembly of auteur heavyweights, including Kelly Reichardt, who returns to Cannes with "The Mastermind," an art-heist drama starring Josh O'Connor and John Magaro against the backdrop of the Vietnam War; Norwegian filmmaker Joachim Trier, who follows up his 2021 triumph with "Sentimental Value," featuring Renate Reinsve; and Iranian dissident director Jafar Panahi, whose latest drama, "A Simple Accident," will also compete.
Additionally, Scarlett Johansson and Harris Dickinson are set to make their directorial debuts at this year's festival. Frémaux screened an unprecedented 2,909 features in the selection process, setting a new all-time record. Explore the complete lineup for the 2025 Cannes Film Festival here.
