As the 65th Cannes Film Festival enters its final weekend, conversations inevitably turn into debates about the likely Palme D’Or winner.  Yesterday those began in the Splendid breakfast room between noted film festival veterans and continued throughout ubiquitous lines at screenings from the Soixantieme to the Star cinemas.  (At the press brunch, a roaming camera crew ambushed me with the question about what I thought might win.)  Later, a large dinner gathering of press and distributors at Le Pizza sparked the creation of multiple top 5 lists.  What’s clear is that nothing is clear.

Italian filmmaker Nanni Moretti leads the jury of nine—split in equal numbers between directors and actors—who will determine the top prize including actors Diane Kruger, Hiam Abbass, Emmanuelle Devos and Ewan McGregor, directors Alexander Payne, Raoul Peck and Andrea Arnold, and French fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier.

Likely contenders vying for the top prize include: MIchael Haneke’s elegant and remorseless AMOUR, the wild cinematic ride of HOLY MOTORS by Leos Carax, Abbas Kiarostami’s subtle, unpredictable dark comedy LIKE SOMEONE IN LOVE, the impressive second film of Cristian Mungiu’s BEYOND THE HILLS, and Walter Salles’ long awaited ON THE ROAD.