Paddy Power places ‘The Lobster’ as Cannes Film Festival Palme D’Or favourite

World Cinema this week gears up for two weeks of glamour, gossip and entertainment at the 68th annual Cannes Film Festival (13-24 May). Media buzz has begun to gather on the Cote d Azur beaches as international contenders eye the coveted Palme D’Or, the biggest prize in world cinema.

This year’s Cannes Film Festival will be chaired by sibling directors Joel and Ethan Coen (‘The Coen Brothers’), who will head up the festivals Grand Jury and asses the contenders. The international field sees strong candidate entries from as far afield as Japan and Ethiopia compete for the 2015 Palme D’Or.

Bookmaker Paddy Power has set out its Palme D’Or market, placing Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos English language debut film ‘The Lobster’ as the Palme favourite at 9/2. Paddy Power’s market favourite which stars Colin Farrell and Rachel Weisz, comes to the festival having won awards at the ARTE Cinema International awards and at the Rotterdam Film Festival

Lanthimos ‘The Lobster’ which has been described as a science fiction romantic comedy, depicts a dystopian near future where men are obliged to find a partner within a 45 day period. If they fail, they are transformed into animals and sent off into the woods.

The festivals wide selection will see ‘The Lobster’ compete against hotly tipped Palme D’Or contenders ‘Louder Than Bombs’ by Norwegian director Joachim Trier (11/2) and Chinese independent drama ‘Mountains May Depart’ (7/1) (see full market pricings below)

Cannes’ two week line up will debut hundreds of films to critics and audiences, pricings for the Palme D’Or market will likely change during the period as the festival has had a history of rewarding surprise and shock winners.

Paddy Power 2015 Palme D’Or Winner