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Cannes 2015: Nanni Moretti and Gus Van Sant on the verge of a second Palme d'Or

Both nominated at the upcoming Cannes Film Festival, one of these celebrated filmmakers could join the club of two-time Palme d'Or winners.

Previous winners of the festival's top award, Nanni Moretti ("Mia Madre") and Gus Van Sant ("The Sea of Trees") could once again leave their mark in Cannes during the 68th edition of the prestigious festival, taking place this year May 13-24.

Winner in 2001 for "La Chambre du Fils," the Italian director took home the award two years before his American counterpart, himself a winner in 2003 for "Elephant." Should either of the two win, the club of two-time Palme d'Or winning directors would welcome an eighth member alongside Bille August, Francis Ford Coppola, Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Michael Haneke, Emir Kusturica and Alf Sjöberg.

If Gun Van Sant wins, he would be the fourteenth Palme d'Or winner from the United States, pulling even farther away from France (6) and Italy (5).

Nanni Moretti and Gus Van Sant are also the only two filmmakers in the 2015 competition to have won the award for best directing: the Italian won in 1994 for "Journal intime," while the American won in 2003, again for "Elephant." Even if one of the two wins in this category again though, they would still not match the record held by the Coen brothers: this year's jury presidents have won the award three times in a ten-year span, for "Barton Fink," "Fargo" and "The Barber."

A first Palme d'Or for Audiard?

After 20 years of collecting "secondary" awards in Cannes, the French director could take home his first Palme d'Or thanks to "Dheepan." Jacques Audiard has previously proven himself in Cannes by taking home the best screenplay award for "Un héros très discret" in 1996, as well as the Grand Prix, the second most prestigious award at the festival, for "Un prophète" in 2009.

Matteo Garrone is on the verge of breaking a record as well as he could become the first director to win the Grand Prix three times. The Italian previously left his mark on this category with "Gomorra" in 2008 and "Reality" in 2012.

He'll be up against Maïwenn, Paolo Sorrentino and Hou Hsiao-hsien, all previous winners of the Prix du Jury (Jury Prize). The Chinese director, victorious in 1993 for "Le Maître des marionettes," will present "Assassin" this year. The Italian, winner in 2008 for "Il Divo," will present "La giovinezza," while Maïwenn, the French director who won in 2011 for her film "Polisse," will present "Mon roi."

A record for Isabelle Huppert?

On the acting side of things, Isabelle Huppert, the great French actress of stage and screen starring in this year's "Louder than Bombs," could become the first actress thrice awarded for her performance. The actress previously won in 1978 for Claude Chabrol's "Violette Nozière" and in 2001 for Michael Haneke's "La Pianiste."

Also competing this year in Cannes are John Turturro ("Mia Madre"), previously a winner in 1991 for his role in the Coen brothers' "Barton Fink," and Benicio del Toro ("Sicario"), winner in 2008 for his portrayal of Che in the film of the same name.