Woody Allen’s ‘Cafe Society’ to Set Record With Cannes Opening

Woody Allen’s “Cafe Society,” his 46th feature as a director, has been chosen to open the 69th annual Cannes Film Festival.

, the May 11 premier at the Palais des Festivals’ Grand Théâtre Lumière will make Allen the first and only director with three opening-night films at the prestigious French festival. His previous premiers include “Hollywood Ending” (2002) and “Midnight in Paris” (2011). “Cafe Society” is also the first Amazon produced film to make Cannes, signaling that streaming services are in league with established production houses.

The official Cannes description of the Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart starrer tells the story of a “young man who arrives in Hollywood during the 1930s hoping to work in the film industry, falls in love, and finds himself swept up in the vibrant café society that defined the spirit of the age.” The cast includes Steve Carell, Parker Posey, Blake Lively, Corey Stoll, Jeannie Berlin and Ken Stott and will premier on Amazon later this year.