Christopher Nolan Headed to Cannes for the First Time With ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ Unrestored 70mm Print

Christopher Nolan is finally heading to the Cannes Film Festival. The director has never hit the Croisette with one of his movies, but the world premiere of a new print of Stanley Kubrick‘s “2001: A Space Odyssey” will bring the auteur favorite to the 2018 edition of the fest. The festival’s Cannes Classics section has announced an unrestored 70mm cut of Kubrick’s magnum opus will debut on May 12. Nolan will introduce the screening, which will be attended by Kubrick’s daughter, Katharina, and his longtime producing partner and brother-in-law, Jan Harlan.

In addition to presenting “2001: A Space Odyssey,” Nolan will stick around the 2018 Cannes Film Festival to participate in a Cannes Masterclass on May 13. The discussion will find the “Dunkirk” filmmaker looking back at his own career and talking about his love of Kubrick. The event marks the 50th anniversary of the movie.

“One of my earliest memories of cinema is seeing Stanley Kubrick’s ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ in 70mm, at the Leicester Square Theatre in London with my father,” Nolan said to mark the announcement. “The opportunity to be involved in recreating that experience for a new generation, and of introducing our new unrestored 70mm print of Kubrick’s masterpiece in all its analogue glory at the Festival de Cannes is an honour and a privilege.”

“We are looking forward to this unique 70mm projection which will prove, if proof were necessary, that cinema was indeed invented for the BIG screen,” added Cannes director Thierry Frémaux.

Nolan was rumored to be a Cannes contender last year with “Dunkirk,” but Warner Bros. decided not to world premiere the WWII epic at the festival. The “2001” world premiere will mark Nolan’s first official trip to the festival. The 2018 Cannes Film Festival runs May 8-19.