Japanese film director Koreeda Hirokazu's "Monster" has been nominated for the top prize at this year's Cannes Film Festival.

"Monster" is among this year's lineup in the competition category announced on Thursday.

The story centers around an incident involving two elementary school students. The incident is recounted from the viewpoints of children, parents and teachers, posing the question of what the "Monster" is. The film is to be released in Japan in June.

World-renowned Japanese musician and composer Sakamoto Ryuichi, who died in March, was in charge of the music. This was his last composition for a movie.

"Monster" is Koreeda's seventh film to be nominated in the competition, following his 2022 "Broker". He won the Palme d'Or with "Shoplifters" in 2018.

Koreeda said a film is born as a result of short, fleeting interactions with staff and actors. He said the Cannes festival is the greatest venue for him to present his work.

Japanese actor Yakusyo Koji stars in "Perfect Days" by German director Wim Wenders, one of the others nominated in the competition category. Kitano Takeshi's "Kubi" was selected in this year's Cannes Premiere category.

The 76th annual Cannes Film Festival will run from May 16 through May 27.