The 67th Cannes Film Festival is officially underway – and while the blue skies and eternal sunshine of the French coast are lovely, what we’re really excited about is the little bits of the True North you can spot at this year’s fest.

We’ve got a feeling it’s going to be a good year for the Canuck contingent at Cannes – after all 3 out of 18 films in competition for the top prize, the Palme D’Or, are made-in-Canada.

The hottest stars at the Whistler Film Festival

Here’s our round-up of the home-grown directors, films, and actors to watch at this year’s fest.

David Cronenberg, director:
I say “Canadian director” … and there’s a good chance you’ll say “Cronenberg.” The legendary auteur and Cannes regular is back again with Map to the Stars, a film about a thoroughly dysfunctional Hollywood family. It’s apparently a passion project the Cosmopolis director has been trying to make for years. And it stars Robert Pattinson, so that’s the Twihard vote sorted.

BEST AND WORST dressed celebrities at Cannes 2014

Xavier Dolan, director:
Dolan is a bit of wunderkind—this is the 27 year-old Quebec native’s fifth film, and given that his fourth Tom at the Farm received rave reviews at the Venice Film Fest just last year (yup, productive too), everyone’s got high hopes for Mommy, a thriller about a mother battling to cope with a dangerous child.

Sarah Gadon, actress:
We’ve been fans of Toronto gal Sarah Gadon since her days on Being Erica, so it’s an exciting thing to see her back at the fest this year. She’s teamed up with her Cosmopolis director, David Cronenberg, again—and this time, she’s playing a ghostly Hollywood starlet. Sounds spookily amazing, no?

More Canadians (including two Ryans!) making a splash at Cannes 2014…

Ryan Gosling, debut director:
Con: The likelihood of adding to your “shirtless Ryan Gosling” album is nil. Pro: This is a talented actor taking his first turn behind the camera with Lost River, a sci-fi adventure about a mysterious underworld, starring Christina Hendricks and Eva Mendes. It’s a mark of honour that Gosling’s first film has been placed in the coveted “Un Certain Regard” category, but really…we were going to support our imaginary boyfriend either way.

5 Canadian artists you need to know now

Atom Egoyan, director:
This Armenian-Egyptian-Canadian director has some serious Cannes cred (his Sweet Hereafter was the big winner back in ’97). He’s back to woo the Palme with a film that’s less art-house, and more summer blockbuster. At least on paper. The Captive is a suspense flick about a father and his kidnapped daughter (so basically a Liam Neeson film)–but we’ve got faith that Egoyan will bring a little magic to the vehicle.

The rules of male beauty

Ryan Reynolds, actor:
We’re just spoiled for hunky Canadian Ryans this year! Mr. Blake Lively is bringing his square jaw and penetrating gaze to the dad role in the above-mentioned Egoyan flick The Captive. Fingers crossed might be at least partially nude while saving the day? That or deliver a moving, gripping performance of a father pushed to his emotional and physical limits. Both work for us…

READ MORE:
The hottest young Canadian artists right now
Most beautiful and most wacky looks from Cannes 2014
ELLE Man: Male grooming 101