Pixar animation to close Cannes Film Festival

World premiere of Elemental inspired by director’s New York childhood

by Richard Mowe

Pixar's Elementals to close Cannes
Pixar's Elementals to close Cannes Photo: Disney Pixar

Pixar Animation Studios return to the Cannes Croisette on the last day of the Festival (27 May) for the world première of the new feature Elemental which will be presented Out of Competition, before it is released in cinemas on 16 June in the US and UK and on 21 June in France.

Elemental is the fourth feature film from Pixar Animation Studios to be presented in the Official Cannes Selection, after Up, Inside Out and Soul.

Pete Docter, Pixar’s chief creative officer, said this year’s return to Cannes is particularly special for the studio. “As we all emerge from our pandemic cocoons, it’s a joy and honour to have Pixar back on the Croisette. It was created for audiences to experience on the big screen and I love that it’ll make its world premiere at Cannes.”

Elemental … fourth feature film from Pixar Animation Studios to be presented in the Official Cannes Selection
Elemental … fourth feature film from Pixar Animation Studios to be presented in the Official Cannes Selection Photo: Pixar / Disney

Directed by Peter (The Good Dinosaur) Sohn, it is inspired by his own childhood in New York and the basic elements of fire, water, earth and air.

The original voice cast includes Leah Lewis (Ember) and Mamoudou Athie (Wade) while in the French version Adèle Exarchopoulos and Vincent Lacoste have lent their voices to the characters, in their first experience of dubbing. Ember is a fearless and quick-witted young woman while Wade is a fun, sappy, go-with-the-flow guy. The film’s original score was composed and conducted by Thomas Newman.

Thierry Frémaux, artistic director of the Festival: “For many years, the Festival de Cannes has welcomed animated films from around the world. Pixar Animation Studios, with Up, directed by Pete Docter, made Cannes history by opening the 62nd edition of the Festival in 2009. It was a wonderful event! This is an another great opportunity, to present the amazing Elemental, for the last screening of this 76th Festival de Cannes, and to think about our lives in such a powerful way.”

The Festival is looking forward to welcoming Docter, Sohn, producer Denise Ream and many of the actors who voice the characters of the film for the closing red carpet event.

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