NEON has released the official teaser for Alpha, the latest film from Palme d’Or-winning director Julia Ducournau (Titane, Raw). Premiering in competition at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, Alpha is slated for a theatrical release in October 2025.
A Haunting Tale of Transformation
Alpha centers on a troubled 13-year-old girl, Alpha, who lives with her single mother. Their world unravels when Alpha returns home with a mysterious tattoo, raising fears that she has contracted a new, lethal bloodborne disease that gradually turns its victims’ bodies to marble. The film is set against the backdrop of a global epidemic, serving as an allegory for the HIV/AIDS crisis of the 1980s and 1990s.
Ducournau describes Alpha as her most personal and profound work to date, exploring themes of bodily transformation and the human condition.
The film features a compelling cast, including Mélissa Boros as Alpha, Golshifteh Farahani as her mother, and Tahar Rahim, who underwent a significant physical transformation for his role. The ensemble also includes Emma Mackey, Finnegan Oldfield, and Louai El Amrousy.
Alpha is a co-production between Petit Film, Mandarin & Compagnie, France 3 Cinéma, and Frakas Productions. The film’s cinematography is by Ruben Impens, with editing by Jean-Christophe Bouzy and an original score composed by Jim Williams.
Critical Reception and Accolades
Following its Cannes premiere, Alpha has elicited a range of critical responses. While some critics have described it as a “dismal” and “overwrought” entry in Ducournau’s filmography, others have praised its ambition and potential to become a cult classic.
The film was nominated for the Palme d’Or and the Queer Palm at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. It also received the CST Award for Technical Artistry, recognizing the work of cinematographer Ruben Impens and sound mixer Stéphane Thiébaut.
