Boots Riley says Cannes rejected “I Love Boosters” and other past projects, including “I’m a Virgo,” and that the festival chose “The Idol” over his work. He also points to “Sorry to Bother You” having premiered at Sundance rather than Cannes.
For Boots Riley, the Cannes timeline isn’t a mystery anymore—it’s a series of open doors and doors that simply never swung his way.
When he was asked on X why he chose to premiere “I Love Boosters” at SXSW instead of Cannes, Riley didn’t soften it. He acknowledged that Cannes rejected the film—and he said it also turned down several of his earlier projects.
Riley pointed back to “Sorry to Bother You,” his 2018 dark comedy feature, which premiered at Sundance and earned the Sundance Institute’s Vanguard Award. Cannes, he said, didn’t pick it.
He then named “I’m a Virgo,” a comedy series that Cannes also turned down.
In his response on X, Riley wrote: “Cannes didn’t pick Sorry To Bother You altho they picked other stuff that had been played in their home country. They picked The Idol over I’m A Virgo. They didn’t pick I Love Boosters. They just don’t like my stuff. All good.”
The message landed with a bluntness that matched the movie he’s pushing—“I Love Boosters. ” a surreal crime comedy where Keke Palmer. Naomi Ackie. Taylour Paige. and Poppy Liu star as a crew of boosters. described as professional shoplifters and “equal opportunists.” Their target is Christie Smith. a cutthroat fashion maven played by Demi Moore. Riley frames it as “community service.”.
The cast also includes Eiza González, LaKeith Stanfield, Will Poulter, Don Cheadle, Jason Ritter, Eric André, Alan Z, and more.
Riley’s Cannes comments arrive as “I Love Boosters” moves through the spotlight. The film is at 92% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, with a roughly $20M budget. Neon. which Riley’s film is tied to in this rollout. made “I Love Boosters” its most expensive film ever produced. The surreal crime comedy opened wide over this Memorial Day holiday frame.
Taken together. the story is less about one rejection and more about a pattern Riley says he’s experienced repeatedly—festival choices that. in his telling. have consistently leaned elsewhere. Cannes may have picked “The Idol” over “I’m a Virgo,” Riley said. But it didn’t pick “I Love Boosters. ” and it didn’t pick “Sorry to Bother You. ” either—at least. not according to his account.
Boots Riley Cannes rejection I Love Boosters SXSW The Idol I’m a Virgo Sorry to Bother You Demi Moore Keke Palmer Neon
Cannes only likes certain stuff I guess. Sounds like sour grapes to me.
I’m confused though, didn’t “Sorry to Bother You” already do Sundance? Like why are they acting like Cannes was supposed to pick it? Festivals pick what they pick.
So he’s basically saying Cannes hates him. But also “The Idol” is in the same conversation?? Like that show has nothing to do with his movie lol. Also Keke Palmer being in it makes it sound fun, so I’m like… ok go get your premiere then.
Idk, festivals are political. If they chose The Idol over I’m A Virgo, that tells me everything. Also I thought Cannes accepted more lefty directors back in the day but maybe not if you’re “surreal” or whatever. Boots Riley saying they “just don’t like my stuff” feels kinda dramatic, but I believe it’s possible. Rotten Tomatoes 92% fresh doesn’t mean anything if they won’t platform you, right? Either way I’m probably watching it now.