Kantemir Balagov's "Butterfly Jam" will open the "Directors' Fortnight" — the parallel program of the Cannes Festival.

The director's English-language debut and his third feature film tells the story of a teenager Pitekha (Talha Akdogan) from a Circassian community in New Jersey. The hero wants to become a wrestler but is forced to continue the family business in a national cuisine restaurant, leading to a conflict with his father.

"Butterfly Jam" boasts a quite Hollywood cast: Barry Keoghan, Riley Keough, Harry Melling, and Monica Bellucci. The screenplay was co-written by Balagov and writer Marina Stepnova ("The Women of Lazarus").

Balagov has been to Cannes twice, both times in the "Un Certain Regard" section, where he received awards for directing and FIPRESCI.

The "Directors' Fortnight" will take place from May 13 to 23.