Head-spinning new trailer for Ari Folman's 'The Congress' with Robin Wright

After making a splash at Cannes in 2008 with the brilliant animated war film Waltz with Bashir, Ari Folman is finally making his long-awaited return to the Croisette with The Congress. Drips of information have come out about it over the years, with the most recent update back in 2011 when some early imagery was released, suggesting a film that would look on the surface a lot like 'Bashir' had. But now that that the first trailer is here, it's clear The Congress is something entirely different.

Based loosely on Stanislaw Lem's The Futurological Congress, Robin Wright stars as a version of herself as her career is fading in the digital age. In a bid to stay relevant and secure a means of supporting her son (Kodi Smit-McPhee), she allows her image to be copied and used infinitely, losing her identity in the process. The live-action part of the film features Danny Huston and Harvey Keitel cheesing it up pretty badly, while Wright appears to be on the top of her game. However, it's when the psychedelic animated aspects take over that it truly comes to life, blending 3D animation with what appear to be some wild black & white sci-fi elements.

The Congress will premier at Cannes during the Directors' Fortnight.