We were waiting for it, and here it is: the official selection of the 79th Cannes Film Festival has just been announced. Chaired by Park Chan-wook, this edition, which will take place from Tuesday, May 12 to Saturday, May 23, 2026, promises a Croisette that’s more cinephile than ever, surprisingly far from American blockbusters.
Between veterans, already crowned or not, and a new generation ready to shake up the hierarchy: the official selection is fully embracing diversity this year. A subtle balance, carefully championed by Thierry Frémaux and Iris Knobloch, during their press conference this afternoon.
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Hollywood takes a step back, independent cinema takes the spotlight
On the must-see figures list, we have Pedro Almodóvar (Autofiction, in theaters on May 20), Asghar Farhadi (Parallel Stories, May 2026), Andrei Zvyagintsev (Minotaur, no confirmed date), and Ryusuke Hamaguchi (Suddenly, in theaters on August 12) returning to defend their vision of auteur cinema. All are in the running for the Palme d’Or, which they have yet to win, despite classics like Volver (2006) and All About My Mother (1998) for Almodóvar, A Separation (2011) for Farhadi, Loveless (2017) for Zvyagintsev, and Drive My Car (2021) for Hamaguchi.
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Facing them, the new generation is stepping up with eleven new entries in the official competition, for a total of 21 films competing for the Palme d'Or, including five female directors: a record for the festival. With 2,541 films submitted this year, Cannes once again confirms its status as a global cinema powerhouse, where new voices emerge every year.
Nolan, Spielberg… the big names who are missing and sparking conversation
But notably, one absence stands out: that of American blockbusters. No (or very little) red carpet for major productions this year. The highly anticipated The Odyssey by Christopher Nolan, an ambitious retelling of the myth of Ulysses featuring a superstar international cast (Tom Holland, Zendaya, Matt Damon...), and Disclosure Day, which marks the
Thierry Frémaux confirme ce soir dans Variety les absences de Nolan et Iñarritu à Cannes 2026
— Destination Cannes 2026 (@DestinationCin2) March 24, 2026
et pour Spielberg "cela dépend de nombreux facteurs stratégiques" https://t.co/1uj63DQqkB
A shift embraced by Thierry Frémaux, who champions a selection focused on more independent cinema, away from studio logic. « The United States will be present, but the studios a bit less », he summarizes. It's a way to remind us that Cannes remains, above all, a festival for filmmakers.
Historical epics and spectacular red carpet moments
That said, the show will definitely be on point. Among the strong trends this year: a notable presence of historical narratives, often linked to the Second World War. Leading the line-up is the highly anticipated La Bataille de Gaulle: L'âge de fer by Antonin Baudry, the first part of the most expensive French film of the year, featuring Simon Abkarian in the role of
Also, we have the return of Hungarian filmmaker Laszlo Nemes, who will come to present Moulin, with Gilles Lellouche taking on the role of Jean Moulin. It promises to be a truly spectacular walk up the red carpet!
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Honorary Palms for Streisand and Jackson
It’s worth noting that the festival opening will be led by The Electric Venus by Pierre Salvadori, while Eye Haïdara will orchestrate the ceremonies. Out of competition, a few Hollywood appearances (Woody Harrelson, Kristen Stewart, Emma Mackey) should still light up the Croisette, especially with Quentin Dupieux.
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Finally, this 79th edition will pay tribute to two major figures in world cinema: Barbra Streisand and Peter Jackson, both honored for their lifetime achievements. It's a wonderful way to connect the history of cinema with its present.