James Gray’s “Paper Tiger” has secured a place in the Cannes Film Festival competition and North American distribution through Neon, resolving weeks of uncertainty over its festival status.
The film, a crime thriller starring Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, and Miles Teller, had been widely anticipated for the Palme d’Or race but was omitted from the initial selection announced by Cannes chief Thierry Fremaux on April 9. Fremaux later confirmed to Variety that the film remained under consideration, citing contractual complexities and describing it as “a wonderful film, a very James Gray film, very indie.”
Neon’s acquisition of North American rights, first reported by Variety and confirmed by IndieWire through direct contact with the distributor, clears a major hurdle for the film’s Cannes inclusion. The deal adds to Neon’s growing slate of competition titles this year, which includes works by Na Hong-Jin, Hirokazu Kore-eda, and Ryusuke Hamaguchi, reinforcing the distributor’s strategy of targeting festival laureates.
This marks Neon’s continued pursuit of a seventh consecutive Palme d’Or winner for U.S. Release, following recent successes with “Parasite,” “Titane,” “Triangle of Sadness,” “Anatomy of a Fall,” “Anora,” and “It Was Just an Accident.” The company has emerged as a dominant force in festival acquisitions, particularly in contrast to MUBI’s more limited but notable purchases in Un Certain Regard.
Gray, a Cannes fixture with five prior competition entries including “Armageddon Time” and “The Immigrant,” is one of only two American directors in this year’s lineup, alongside Ira Sachs’ “The Man I Love.” His enduring relationship with the festival — highlighted by his 2009 jury service under Isabelle Huppert — underscores his standing within the international arthouse circuit.
The film’s narrative centers on two brothers pursuing the American dream who become ensnared in a corrupt scheme, only to face escalating violence and betrayal at the hands of the Russian Mafiya, fracturing their bond in ways once considered unthinkable. The reunion of Johansson and Driver, who previously co-starred in Noah Baumbach’s “Marriage Story,” adds notable weight to the cast.
Produced by Rodrigo Teixeira’s RT Features and Anthony Katagas’ AK Productions, with executive production by Lee Broda, Jeff Rice, Riccardo Maddalosso, and Emily Salveson, “Paper Tiger” will have its French distribution managed by SND. Its official selection now sets the stage for a world premiere in competition, where it will contend for the Palme d’Or among 22 total entrants.
Why was “Paper Tiger” initially left out of the Cannes lineup?
The film was excluded from the initial selection due to unresolved contractual issues, as confirmed by Cannes artistic director Thierry Fremaux, who noted the project was “complicated to position together” but expressed hope the matters would be settled soon.
How does Neon’s acquisition of “Paper Tiger” fit into its broader Cannes strategy?
Neon’s purchase reinforces its pattern of securing North American rights to high-profile festival contenders, aiming to extend its streak of distributing Palme d’Or winners in the U.S., following six consecutive successes dating back to “Parasite.”
