With the 2026 Cannes Film Festival fast approaching, speculation is running high about which films will have the honour of walking the red carpet on the Croisette. Following Jafar Panahi’s triumph last year, this 79th edition is already generating high expectations, especially with South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook presiding over the jury.
As every year, we have investigated, cross-checked rumours and analysed production schedules to bring you our predictions. Last year’s were remarkably accurate, and we hope this year’s investigation will be just as close to the official selection. Here is our overview of what could make up the 2026 Cannes crop.
Films very likely to be at Cannes (in Competition)
Circles (working title) by Michel Franco
With: Not announced
A clinical psychological drama shot in New York. The film follows a privileged woman whose life unravels in concentric circles after a chance encounter that awakens a childhood trauma.
Probability of being in Official Competition: HIGH
Probability of being in a parallel selection: LOW
| The film should be ready… Franco is now a regular on the Croisette, where he learned his craft. Since his recent appearances have mostly been at Venice, a return to Cannes seems likely. |
Fjord by Cristian Mungiu
With: Sebastian Stan
Two families live in a small Norwegian village. Their apparently harmonious relationship begins to fray as differing cultural perspectives on family life, education and societal values emerge.
Probability of being in Official Competition: HIGH
Probability of being in a parallel selection: LOW
| Some even claim the film has already been slotted into the competition. |
Jack of Spades by Joel Coen
With: Josh O’Connor, Frances McDormand
A gothic mystery set in 1880s Scotland.
Probability of being in Official Competition: HIGH
Probability of being in a parallel selection: LOW
| Widely rumoured. Hoping Coen’s talent proves far superior to Ethan’s, who was a major disappointment last year. |
Let Love In by Felix Van Groeningen
With: Luca Marinelli, Charlotte Vandermeersch
The emotional journey of a couple who begin to question everything they once took for granted when a long-standing affair is revealed.
Probability of being in Official Competition: REALISTIC
Probability of being in a parallel selection: POSSIBLE
| A demotion to a parallel section would be a snub (not impossible), but Van Groeningen still has his fan club, to which the festival is not insensitive. |
Lucca Mortis (Tower Stories) by Peter Greenaway
With: Dustin Hoffman, Helen Hunt, Sofia Boutella, Giacomo Gianniotti
In 2001, following the attack on the Twin Towers in New York, a New York writer takes a sabbatical to visit Lucca in search of his distant Italian roots.
Probability of being in Official Competition: HIGH
Probability of being in a parallel selection: LOW
| The great return of Peter Greenaway to Cannes… we’re taking the risk. |
Minotaure by Andrey Zvyagintsev
With: Not announced
A Russian business executive about to lay off employees discovers his wife’s infidelity; an intimate drama about emotional and moral collapse under personal and political pressure.
Probability of being in Official Competition: HIGH
Probability of being in a parallel selection: LOW
| Very, very eagerly awaited on the Croisette. |
Out of this World by Albert Serra
With: Riley Keough, F. Murray Abraham, Liza Yankovskaya
An American delegation travels to Russia in the middle of the Ukraine war to try to resolve an economic dispute linked to sanctions.
Probability of being in Official Competition: HIGH
Probability of being in a parallel selection: LOW
| Albert Serra should have won the Palme d’Or with Pacifiction. Postponed? |
Parallel Tales by Asghar Farhadi
With: Isabelle Huppert, Pierre Niney, Virginie Efira
Interwoven stories set against the November 2015 Paris attacks.
Probability of being in Official Competition: HIGH
Probability of being in a parallel selection: LOW
| The very French cast and very “Cannes-friendly” production are strong indicators… even if we would prefer to see a more committed Iranian filmmaker. |
Sheep in the Box by Hirokazu Kore-eda
With: Ayase Haruka
In the near future, a couple who lost their son welcomes an ultra-modern humanoid that looks exactly like him. A reflection on grief, technology and human values in the face of progress.
Probability of being in Official Competition: HIGH
Probability of being in a parallel selection: LOW
| Kore-eda is a regular. A Japanese release on 29 May lines up perfectly with a Cannes launch. |
All of a Sudden by Ryusuke Hamaguchi
With: Virginie Efira, Denis Ménochet
Marie-Lou tries to introduce an innovative care method into a nursing home. Her unexpected encounter with Mari, a Japanese theatre director suffering from cancer, turns her life upside down.
Probability of being in Official Competition: HIGH
Probability of being in a parallel selection: LOW
| A French release has already been announced for August 2026, making selection almost inevitable. |
The Beloved (El Ser Querido) by Rodrigo Sorogoyen
With: Javier Bardem, Marina Foïs, Vicky Luengo
An acclaimed director and his daughter, an unsuccessful actress, make a film together after years of estrangement and a difficult past.
Probability of being in Official Competition: HIGH
Probability of being in a parallel selection: LOW
| Rodrigo Sorogoyen has served his apprenticeship… is it time for the main competition now? |
Diary of a Chambermaid by Radu Jude
With: Ana Dumitrașcu, Vincent Macaigne, Mélanie Thierry
A young Romanian woman living in France works for a French family and joins a theatre troupe adapting Octave Mirbeau’s The Diary of a Chambermaid.
Probability of being in Official Competition: HIGH
Probability of being in a parallel selection: LOW
| The film is ready; it would seem quite logical to see Radu Jude in Official Competition. |
The End of Oak Street by David Robert Mitchell
With: Anne Hathaway, Ewan McGregor, Maisy Stella, Christian Convery, Jordan Alexa Davis, P. J. Byrne, Chris Coy
After a mysterious event rips Oak Street from its suburb and transports the neighbourhood to an unknown place, the Platt family realises their survival is at stake.
Probability of being in Official Competition: HIGH
Probability of being in a parallel selection: LOW
| David Robert Mitchell should return to competition. |
The Way of the Wind by Terrence Malick
With: Adam Nagaitis, Mark Rylance, Matthias Schoenaerts
A film about the life of Jesus told through a series of stories.
Probability of being in Official Competition: HIGH
Probability of being in a parallel selection: LOW
| As last year, mystery surrounds the film’s status. But since it was almost finished last year, we’re optimistic! |
Films very likely to be at Cannes (out of competition or parallel sections)
La Vénus électrique by Pierre Salvadori
With: Pio Marmaï, Anaïs Demoustier, Gilles Lelouche, Vimala Pons
Paris, early 20th century. Convinced that his wife Irène died because of him, fashionable painter Antoine Balestro can no longer work and despairs his gallerist Armand. One drunken evening, seeking forgiveness, Antoine tries to contact Irène through a medium. Unbeknownst to him, he is actually speaking to Suzanne, a modest acrobat who knows nothing about the afterlife and has slipped into the fortune teller’s caravan to steal food…
Probability of being in Official Competition: LOW
Probability of being in a parallel section: HIGH
| Beneath a light tone and retro charm, the film seems more suited to an out-of-competition screening than to the race for the Palme d’Or. |
La bataille de Gaulle : L’Éclat du Fer by Antonin Baudry
With: Simon Abkarian
First part of a diptych: Charles de Gaulle flees to London in 1940 in the face of the armistice.
Probability of being in Official Competition: LOW
Probability of being in a parallel selection: HIGH
| A special screening seems perfectly suited. |
La bataille de Gaulle : Le Souverain by Antonin Baudry
With: Simon Abkarian, Simon Russell Beale, Florian Lesieur
Second part: de Gaulle during the war and post-Liberation politics.
Probability of being in Official Competition: LOW
Probability of being in a parallel selection: HIGH
| A special screening seems perfectly suited. |
Disclosure Day by Steven Spielberg
With: Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, Colin Firth
If someone proved to you that we are not alone, what would you do?
Probability of being in Official Competition: LOW
Probability of being in a parallel selection: HIGH
| The perfect opening film? |
Gentle Monster by Marie Kreutzer
With: Léa Seydoux, Catherine Deneuve
A pianist moves into an isolated villa with her family.
Probability of being in Official Competition: LOW
Probability of being in a parallel selection: HIGH
| We could easily see her back at Un Certain Regard, or perhaps even at the Directors’ Fortnight. |
Histoires de la nuit by Léa Mysius
With: Benoît Magimel, Monica Bellucci
An isolated village and a few hamlets where a birthday heavy with secrets is being prepared.
Probability of being in Official Competition: LOW
Probability of being in a parallel selection: HIGH
| The Directors’ Fortnight or Critics’ Week seem perfectly suited to Léa Mysius’s career progression. |
Hope by Na Hong-jin
With: HoYeon Jung
A mysterious discovery near Hopo Port sows chaos.
Probability of being in Official Competition: LOW
Probability of being in a parallel selection: HIGH
| Na Hong-jin is highly anticipated; he could even find a place in competition. |
Les Misérables (2026) by Fred Cavayé
With: Vincent Lindon, Tahar Rahim, Camille Cottin
A spectacular new adaptation of Victor Hugo’s masterpiece.
Probability of being in Official Competition: LOW
Probability of being in a parallel selection: HIGH
| We could easily see it at Cannes Première. |
Roma Elastica by Bertrand Mandico
With: Marion Cotillard, Noémie Merlant
A hallucinatory portrait of an actress in 1980s Rome.
Probability of being in Official Competition: LOW
Probability of being in a parallel selection: HIGH
| We could easily see it at Critics’ Week this year. |
Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma by Jane Schoenbrun
With: Hannah Einbinder, Gillian Anderson, Amanda Fix
A meta and strange look at a forgotten slasher franchise.
Probability of being in Official Competition: LOW
Probability of being in a parallel selection: HIGH
| While Official Competition is possible, the film seems a natural candidate for a midnight screening or a parallel selection: Un Certain Regard or Directors’ Fortnight. It is the kind of project that creates “buzz” on the Croisette thanks to its originality. The film is scheduled for US release on 7 August 2026. Its presence in Competition would be very surprising. |
Films that could be at Cannes
15/18 by Cédric Kahn
With: Zoé Monpart, Malou Khebizi, Kenji Peyran
An immersion in a child and adolescent psychiatry unit filmed from the children’s perspective, exploring mental disorders and the dedication of caregivers.
Probability of being in Official Competition: MEDIUM
Probability of being in a parallel selection: HIGH
| Cédric Kahn, a regular on the Croisette. |
1949 (Fatherland) by Paweł Pawlikowski
With: Sandra Hüller, Hanns Zischler, August Diehl
In the middle of the Cold War, exiled writer Thomas Mann and his daughter Erika take a road trip through divided Germany.
Probability of being in Official Competition: MEDIUM
Probability of being in a parallel selection: LOW
| Pawlikowski is a Cannes regular, but the film may not be ready. |
After by Lars von Trier
With: Not announced
A very secretive testament project about end of life and the metaphysical perception of existence.
Probability of being in Official Competition: MEDIUM
Probability of being in a parallel selection: MEDIUM
| The great return of Lars von Trier, almost as a tribute (his health is poor). Is he still persona non grata? |
Alpha Gang by Zellner Brothers
With: Cate Blanchett, Léa Seydoux, Dave Bautista, Chris Pine
Aliens disguised as humans are sent to Earth to conquer it, but they catch the most toxic disease of all: human emotion.
Probability of being in Official Competition: MEDIUM
Probability of being in a parallel selection: MEDIUM
| With Cate Blanchett, Léa Seydoux and Chris Pine, the film is aiming for Cannes according to several sources. |
Après by Kirill Serebrennikov
With: Louis Garrel, Ludivine Sagnier, Vincent Macaigne
A poetic exploration of post-Soviet Russia through the eyes of an exile returning after years of absence.
Probability of being in Official Competition: MEDIUM
Probability of being in a parallel selection: HIGH
| Serebrennikov is present at almost every edition. Will his demotion to Cannes Première be accepted? |
Basics of philosophy by Paul Schrader
With: Jack Huston, Sofia Boutella, Daniel Zovatto
A New York philosophy professor nearing the end of his career confronts his former students in one final existential lesson.
Probability of being in Official Competition: LOW
Probability of being in a parallel selection: MEDIUM
| Schrader made his return to the selection last year, but did not convince everyone. |
Butterfly Jam by Kantemir Balagov
With: Barry Keoghan, Riley Keough, Harry Melling
In New Jersey, a teenager helps out at the family restaurant while training to become a professional wrestler; his father’s shady deal forces him to grow up abruptly.
Probability of being in Official Competition: MEDIUM
Probability of being in a parallel selection: MEDIUM
| Balagov has already served his Cannes apprenticeship. This makes him a serious candidate, especially with a cast that should make the organisers think twice… |
Demain je tombe amoureux / On s’aimera by Martin Provost
With: Fabrice Luchini, Emmanuelle Devos, Chiara Mastroianni
On the day of his retirement, Émile discovers that his wife has left him. He is forced to apply to himself the lessons on love that he used to give his students.
Probability of being in Official Competition: LOW
Probability of being in a parallel selection: HIGH
| An ideal film for Cannes Première. |
Full Phil by Quentin Dupieux
With: Woody Harrelson, Kristen Stewart, Charlotte Lebon
In Paris, an American industrialist tries to reconnect with his daughter. But French cuisine and a 1950s horror film disrupt their stay.
Probability of being in Official Competition: LOW
Probability of being in a parallel selection: HIGH
| Dupieux has his foot in the door. Closing film? |
Her Private Hell by Nicolas Winding Refn
With: Charles Melton, Sophie Thatcher
A hypnotic thriller shot in Tokyo, revisiting the themes of The Neon Demon. A story full of glitter, sex and violence.
Probability of being in Official Competition: LOW
Probability of being in a parallel selection: HIGH
| Highly anticipated on the Croisette, perhaps for a midnight screening? |
It Will Happen Tonight by Nanni Moretti
With: Louis Garrel, Jasmina Trinca, Silvio Orlando
A romantic drama exploring contemporary fears and desires through three interwoven stories.
Probability of being in Official Competition: MEDIUM
Probability of being in a parallel selection: MEDIUM
| Moretti has been somewhat disappointing lately, but his presence cannot be ruled out. |
J’oublierai ton nom by Yann Gonzalez
With: Vanessa Paradis, Filippo Scotti, Fronza Woods
Irène seduces sad men at night. Her encounter with a young man on the run leads her to the edge of a fantastical world.
Probability of being in Official Competition: MEDIUM
Probability of being in a parallel selection: MEDIUM
| Gonzalez has already had the honour of official selection. Is it enough to return? |
L’Inconnue by Arthur Harari
With: Léa Seydoux, Niels Schneider
A solitary photographer follows a woman at a party and wakes up the next day in the body of this stranger.
Probability of being in Official Competition: MEDIUM
Probability of being in a parallel selection: MEDIUM
| The French press is excited about Harari. Will Thierry Frémaux be sensitive to this pressure? |
La Gradiva by Marine Atlan
With: Antonia Buresi, Julie Sokolowski
In Pompeii, French high-school students let themselves be overwhelmed by desire and despair amid the ruins and petrified bodies.
Probability of being in Official Competition: LOW
Probability of being in a parallel selection: HIGH
| A curiosity that some are calling a potential surprise. |
Later the War by Charlie Kaufman
With: Eddie Redmayne, Tessa Thompson, Patsy Ferran
A man manufactures dreams for people, but ends up creating their nightmares.
Probability of being in Official Competition: MEDIUM
Probability of being in a parallel selection: MEDIUM
| It would be a lovely surprise to see him again, 18 years after his last appearance. |
Mémoire de fille by Judith Godrèche
With: Tess Barthélemy, Valérie Dréville, Maïwène Barthèlemy
Annie Ernaux revisits the memory of the summer of 1958, the summer of her first night with a man, whose shockwave spread throughout her entire existence.
Probability of being in Official Competition: LOW
Probability of being in a parallel selection: HIGH
| It would not be surprising to see Judith Godrèche in a parallel selection such as the Directors’ Fortnight. |
Milo by Nicole Garcia
With: Marion Cotillard
After leaving prison, Alice becomes a waitress and bonds with young Milo… who is in fact her son.
Probability of being in Official Competition: MEDIUM
Probability of being in a parallel selection: MEDIUM
| The presence of Marion Cotillard could give the selection committee ideas. And Nicole Garcia has a long history of Cannes selections. |
Mimesis by Kaouther Ben Hania
With: Lyne Ben Brika, Selim Chebbi, Riadh Aloui Nahdi
In Tunisia, a woman opposes the transformation of a family mausoleum and sets out to make a film about the saint of the place.
Probability of being in Official Competition: MEDIUM
Probability of being in a parallel selection: MEDIUM
| Kaouther Ben Hania keeps delivering strong films and proposals. |
Moulin by László Nemes
With: Gilles Lellouche, Lars Eidinger
In 1942, Jean Moulin tries to unify the Resistance but is betrayed and handed over to Klaus Barbie’s Gestapo.
Probability of being in Official Competition: POSSIBLE
Probability of being in a parallel selection: LOW
| Moulin by Nemes can only be presented at Cannes, even if Orphan is currently in cinemas and enjoyed Venice’s honours. |
Les roches rouges (Red Rocks) by Bruno Dumont
With: Non-professional cast
A story of love and rivalry between gangs on the French Riviera, revisited in Dumont’s radical style.
Probability of being in Official Competition: MEDIUM
Probability of being in a parallel selection: MEDIUM
| It is hard to imagine a festival without Dumont when he has a film ready. The question is whether it will be Competition or the Directors’ Fortnight. |
Notre salut by Emmanuel Marre
With: Swann Arlaud, Sandrine Blancke, Mathieu Perotto
September 1940. A man arrives in Vichy with a political manuscript, hoping to help save France in order to save himself.
Probability of being in Official Competition: LOW
Probability of being in a parallel selection: MEDIUM
| An intriguing project… |
Mariage au goût d’orange by Christophe Honoré
With: Vincent Lacoste, Paul Kircher, Adèle Exarchopoulos
March 1978. In a family of seven children, the youngest is getting married. A love marriage that reopens childhood wounds.
Probability of being in Official Competition: LOW
Probability of being in a parallel selection: MEDIUM
| Shot in secret, it could be a last-minute surprise. |
Un bon petit soldat by Stéphane Brizé
With: Alba Rohrwacher, Vincent Lindon
An HR employee tries to reconcile well-being and performance, until compromise becomes inevitable.
Probability of being in Official Competition: MEDIUM
Probability of being in a parallel selection: MEDIUM
| Stéphane Brizé is a regular who rarely misses a selection. |
Wild Horse Nine by Martin McDonagh
With: John Malkovich, Sam Rockwell, Steve Buscemi
Shortly before the 1973 coup, two CIA agents are sent to Easter Island where they confront their pasts and conspiracies.
Probability of being in Official Competition: MEDIUM
Probability of being in a parallel selection: MEDIUM
| Martin McDonagh is acclaimed everywhere, but not yet at Cannes… |
Films with a small chance of being at Cannes
1936 (The Beatles) by Sam Mendes
With: Paul Mescal, Harris Dickinson, Barry Keoghan
The rise of the Beatles seen through the eyes and ambitions of John Lennon in Liverpool.
Probability of being in Official Competition: LOW
Probability of being in a parallel selection: LOW
| The films are scheduled for 2028; a presence as early as 2026 seems very premature, barring a total surprise. |
Werwulf by Robert Eggers
With: Willem Dafoe, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Lily-Rose Depp
In 13th-century England, a mysterious creature roams the misty countryside, turning superstitions into terrifying reality.
Probability of being in Official Competition: LOW
Probability of being in a parallel selection: MEDIUM
| The film is finished (wrapped in January), but a December release suggests an Oscar strategy instead. A midnight screening remains possible. |
Falcon by Marco Bellocchio
With: Fabrizio Gifuni
A biopic dedicated to Sergio Marchionne, the charismatic executive who saved Fiat and Chrysler from bankruptcy.
Probability of being in Official Competition: MEDIUM
Probability of being in a parallel selection: LOW
| Bellocchio is an unconditional regular of the Official Competition. |
Bunker by Florian Zeller
With: Penélope Cruz, Javier Bardem, Patrick Schwarzenegger
An architect builds a bunker for a billionaire, while his wife begins to question their marriage.
Probability of being in Official Competition: MEDIUM
Probability of being in a parallel selection: LOW
| The cast is royal, but the lack of any announcement about the end of filming makes its presence uncertain. |
Young Sinner by Paul Verhoeven
With: Not announced
In Washington, a young Senate employee becomes entangled in international intrigues. An erotic and political thriller.
Probability of being in Official Competition: MEDIUM
Probability of being in a parallel selection: LOW
| Verhoeven and Cannes have a great love story. If the film is ready, it will be in the Official Competition. |
Bad Lieutenant: Tokyo by Takashi Miike
With: Shun Oguri, Lily James, Liv Morgan
A wild reboot: a corrupt Tokyo cop confronts yakuza and mystical crises while on amphetamines.
Probability of being in Official Competition: LOW
Probability of being in a parallel selection: MEDIUM
| It’s the perfect profile for a midnight screening or an energetic parallel selection. |
Paper Tiger by James Gray
With: Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson
Two brothers pursue the American dream but find themselves entangled in a nasty affair linked to the Russian mafia.
Probability of being in Official Competition: LOW
Probability of being in a parallel selection: LOW
| Although James Gray is a Cannes favourite, rumours point to Venice instead. |
The Adventures of Cliff Booth by David Fincher
With: Brad Pitt, Elizabeth Debicki, Scott Caan
The further adventures of the laid-back stuntman Cliff Booth. Sequel to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
Probability of being in Official Competition: LOW
Probability of being in a parallel selection: MEDIUM
| Netflix film: the competition is closed to it, but a special out-of-competition screening is always possible for the glamour factor. |
Mother Mary by Hunter Schafer
With: Anne Hathaway, Michaela Coel
An iconic pop star reconnects with her former best friend and costume designer on the eve of her comeback.
Probability of being in Official Competition: MEDIUM
Probability of being in a parallel selection: LOW
| A24 likes to send its strong projects to Cannes, and the Hathaway/Schafer duo is very “Croisette-compatible”. |
Burning Rainbow Farm by Justin Kurzel
With: Leo Woodall
The true story of a Michigan couple and their “Rainbow Farm” utopia, leading to one of the most significant standoffs in American history.
Probability of being in Official Competition: MEDIUM
Probability of being in a parallel selection: LOW
| Kurzel is a regular in Competition. This strong, political subject could bring him back to the Croisette. |
Henrico’s Farm by Lav Diaz
With: Angeli Bayani
A 6-hour Philippine epic: A 65-year-old woman returns home to the Philippines for the first time in 30 years.
Probability of being in Official Competition: LOW
Probability of being in a parallel selection: MEDIUM
| The 6-hour runtime makes Official Competition difficult, but parallel selections love these radical formats. |
A Long Winter by Andrew Haigh
With: Ebon Moss-Bachrach
A gothic tale set in 1880s Scotland, exploring the boundary between mourning and the presence of the dead.
Probability of being in Official Competition: LOW
Probability of being in a parallel selection: MEDIUM
| The director of All of Us Strangers is highly sought after. A passage through the Directors’ Fortnight or Un Certain Regard is conceivable. |
Kokurojo: The Samurai and The Prisoner by Kiyoshi Kurosawa
With: Masahiro Motoki
In 16th-century Japan, Lord Murashige Araki allies with an imprisoned strategist to solve mysterious crimes in his besieged castle.
Probability of being in Official Competition: MEDIUM
Probability of being in a parallel selection: LOW
| Kurosawa is a festival regular. A samurai detective film by the master of Japanese suspense remains a serious candidate for the Official Competition, but we’ve been waiting for him there for a long time, and every year he is denied official selection, so… |
Double Freedom by Lisandro Alonso
With: Not announced
25 years later, Misael still lives alone in the forest. His tranquillity is disturbed when he has to take care of his older sister.
Probability of being in Official Competition: MEDIUM
Probability of being in a parallel selection: MEDIUM
| After Eureka, Alonso could finally gain access to the main competition, or shine again in Un Certain Regard. |
Flesh of the Gods by Panos Cosmatos
With: Oscar Isaac, Kristen Stewart
In 1980s Los Angeles, a couple dives every night into an underground realm where hedonism and violence reign.
Probability of being in Official Competition: LOW
Probability of being in a parallel selection: MEDIUM
| No real information, but the film is mentioned, notably for its cast. |
Gisèle – Au nom de toutes by Léa Frédeval-Escaffre & Yaël Muller
With: Charlotte Gainsbourg, Cécile de France
The fight of lawyer Gisèle Halimi during the Bobigny trial in 1972 to challenge the abortion law.
Probability of being in Official Competition: LOW
Probability of being in a parallel selection: MEDIUM
| A strong societal subject carried by Charlotte Gainsbourg, an inescapable figure of the festival. |
Julian by Louise Bagnall
With: Darius Jack Knyght (voice)
The story of a boy who wants to be a mermaid, exploring his identity through his grandmother’s colourful New York.
Probability of being in Official Competition: LOW
Probability of being in a parallel selection: MEDIUM
| A poetic and social animated film that fits perfectly with the editorial line of ACID or the Directors’ Fortnight. |
Somewhere Out There by Alexander Payne
With: Renate Reinsve, Jacob Haugaard, Jacob Lohmann
In a small town in Denmark, the long-standing friendship between two men begins to crack.
Probability of being in Official Competition: MEDIUM
Probability of being in a parallel selection: LOW
| Alexander Payne is a regular and Renate Reinsve is a “queen” of Cannes (Best Actress). The combo is strong in itself, but Alexander Payne has also disappointed lately and the film is still in production, so time is against it. |
Wake of Umbra by Carlos Reygadas
With: Not announced
Four friends travel through time and space, meeting in various incarnations across the ages.
Probability of being in Official Competition: HIGH
Probability of being in a parallel selection: LOW
| Reygadas is one of the cherished “enfants terribles” of the Official Competition. His return is always an event. But the film is announced as being in production, so it would not be ready… |
The Dog Stars by Ridley Scott
With: Jacob Elordi, Margaret Qualley, Josh Brolin
In a post-pandemic future, a solitary pilot tries to reach a possible civilisation after picking up a radio signal.
Probability of being in Official Competition: LOW
Probability of being in a parallel selection: MEDIUM
| Ridley Scott often prefers blockbusters, but Jacob Elordi attracts the spotlight of the Croisette. An “Out of Competition” screening is possible. |
The Man I Love by Ira Sachs
With: Rami Malek, Ben Whishaw
A musical fantasy set in 1980s New York during the AIDS crisis, where beauty and love struggle against illness.
Probability of being in Official Competition: MEDIUM
Probability of being in a parallel selection: LOW
| Ira Sachs is highly appreciated at Cannes (often in the Directors’ Fortnight). With Rami Malek, he could aim for Competition, but according to our information the film has not yet entered production. |
Trick by Mario Martone
With: Toni Servillo
The complex relationship between a solitary illustrator and his grandson with an overflowing imagination.
Probability of being in Official Competition: LOW
Probability of being in a parallel selection: LOW
| Shooting begins in early 2026: it’s probably too tight for May, but Martone is a name that counts. |
Geister by Fatih Akin
With: Eren M. Güvercin, Carlotta Von Falkenhayn, David Schütter
After the death of 17-year-old Aisha, she manages to enter Elias’s dreams. A passionate romance is born between them, breaking and transcending the boundaries between dreams and reality.
Probability of being in Official Competition: MEDIUM
Probability of being in a parallel selection: LOW
| Fatih Akin was once a regular at the top of the Cannes lineup. |
The Costume by Corneliu Porumboiu
With: Not announced
A tenor goes to a competition wearing a legendary costume that once belonged to Luis Mariano, triggering unexpected quests.
Probability of being in Official Competition: MEDIUM
Probability of being in a parallel selection: MEDIUM
| The Romanian director is a central figure in the “Un Certain Regard” section, where this whimsical film could shine. |
Banquise by Emmanuel Courcol
With: Sandrine Kiberlain, Benoît Magimel
Three years after the disappearance of a young girl, her sister goes looking for her in Greenland, followed by their parents.
Probability of being in Official Competition: LOW
Probability of being in a parallel selection: MEDIUM
| Courcol has already had the honour of official selection (Cannes 2020 label). A presence in a parallel selection is likely. |
Désert by Aurel
With: (Animation)
A “Cévennes western” by the director of Josep.
Probability of being in Official Competition: LOW
Probability of being in a parallel selection: MEDIUM
| Animation often has its place at Cannes. Josep was very well received, so Aurel could return through the front door. But the film seems quite far from being ready and animation takes a long time. |
Brides by Chloé Okuno
With: Olivia Cooke
In 1961, an American woman takes refuge in an isolated villa in Italy and discovers a world of disturbing immortals.
Probability of being in Official Competition: LOW
Probability of being in a parallel selection: MEDIUM
| After the success of Watcher, Okuno could join a selection like Critics’ Week or the Directors’ Fortnight with this genre film. |
Le Faux Soir by Michaël R. Roskam
With: Arieh Worthalter, François Damiens, Bouli Lanners
In 1943, the Belgian Resistance distributes a fake newspaper to mock the German occupier.
Probability of being in Official Competition: LOW
Probability of being in a parallel selection: MEDIUM
| Roskam (Bullhead) has the profile for a prestigious parallel selection if the film is ready. |
La bola negra (The Black Ball) by Javier Calvo & Javier Ambrossi
With: Guitarricadelafuente, Miguel Bernardeau, Penélope Cruz
Inspired by Mario Bellatin’s novel. A strange and sensory tale about a Japanese character and his relationship with the body.
Probability of being in Official Competition: LOW
Probability of being in a parallel selection: MEDIUM
| The “Javis” are the new stars of Spanish creation. After the success of La Mesías, their transition to cinema is highly anticipated in festivals. |
Ni vue, ni connue by Marc Fitoussi
With: Isabelle Huppert, Marina Foïs
A dramedy about pretense between two women who are polar opposites in the film industry.
Probability of being in Official Competition: LOW
Probability of being in a parallel selection: MEDIUM
| Huppert and Fitoussi form a faithful duo. A projection at the Directors’ Fortnight or in a special screening is entirely conceivable. |
The Death of Robin Hood by Michael Sarnoski
With: Hugh Jackman, Jodie Comer, Bill Skarsgård
A dark and melancholy reimagining of the Robin Hood myth, as he faces his own mortality.
Probability of being in Official Competition: LOW
Probability of being in a parallel selection: MEDIUM
| Sarnoski (Pig) has a strong universe. With this glamorous cast, a midnight or Out-of-Competition screening is possible. |
The Man Who Could Have Changed the World by Anne Paulicevich
With: Linda Caridi, Elio Germano, Edoardo Pesce, Fausto Russo Alesi, Albrecht Schuch
An ambitious project exploring thwarted destinies and the impact of history on individuals.
Probability of being in Official Competition: LOW
Probability of being in a parallel selection: MEDIUM
| Anne Paulicevich is a singular voice in Belgian cinema. A selection at Un Certain Regard or Critics’ Week would suit her well. |
The Great Beyond by J.J. Abrams
With: Glen Powell, Jenna Ortega, Emma Mackey
A mysterious science-fiction thriller marking Abrams’ big return to original directing.
Expected section: OUT OF COMPETITION / EVENT SCREENING
| With filming wrapped and an ultra-glamorous cast, Warner Bros could use Cannes as a global launch platform. |
Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew by Greta Gerwig
With: Emma Mackey, Carey Mulligan, Daniel Craig
The long-awaited reboot of C.S. Lewis’s saga by the director of Barbie.
Expected section: OUT OF COMPETITION
| Gerwig is at home in Cannes. But it’s a Netflix production… |
L’Île oubliée by Joel Crawford
With: (Animation)
A fantastical adventure of two friends on the island of Nakali, inspired by Filipino myths.
Expected section: SPECIAL SCREENING
| The big family animation film of the festival, ideal for a daytime screening with the creative team. |
L’Étrangère by Gaya Jiji
With: Zar Amir Ebrahimi, Alexis Manenti
A Syrian woman in exile in Bordeaux meets a lawyer who will help her find her son. An intimate melodrama about identity.
Expected section: UN CERTAIN REGARD
| With Zar Amir Ebrahimi as lead and a national release in June, Gaya Jiji is a natural candidate for a notable return to the Croisette. |
In Waves by Phuong Mai Nguyen
With voices: Lyna Khoudri, Paul Kircher, Rio Vega
The moving adaptation of the graphic novel mixing surf culture and grief.
Expected section: UN CERTAIN REGARD
| One of the most anticipated animated gems. Its visual sensitivity perfectly matches the DNA of Un Certain Regard. |
Films that will not be at Cannes this year
The announced big absentees
While Cannes rumours run wild every year, the reality of post-production is often more stubborn. Thierry Frémaux recently dampened cinephiles’ hopes by confirming that several heavyweights would not be ready in time. This is the case for the highly anticipated Digger by Alejandro G. Iñárritu (with Tom Cruise), for which Warner Bros seems to prefer an autumn launch, or the next project by Christopher Nolan, whose pharaonic production rules out a May presence.
Here is an overview of these missed appointments and projects still in progress.
Highly tipped but likely absent
These films were favourites among prognosticators, but scheduling or release strategy constraints rule them out of the 2026 selection.
- The Entertainment System is Down (Ruben Östlund): The double Palme d’Or winner dashed hopes by announcing he was going back to editing. His aerial satire with Keanu Reeves now targets Cannes 2027.
- What Happens at Night (Martin Scorsese): With filming only beginning in February 2026 in the Czech Republic, Scorsese’s new project with DiCaprio and Lawrence is technically out of the running for May.
- Bitter Christmas (Pedro Almodóvar): Contrary to the filmmaker’s usual Cannes habits, the film has already been released in Spain in March. A competition presence is therefore excluded.
- Fonda (Justine Triet): The latest Palme d’Or winner will not make an immediate double. Her biopic on Jane Fonda with Andrew Scott and Mia Goth enters production this spring.
- Johnny (Cédric Jimenez): The biopic on the idol of the young with Benjamin Voisin will only begin shooting in June.
- Coward (Lukas Dhont): The new drama from the director of Close will ultimately not be ready in time for selection.
- Iron Lung (Markiplier): Although surrounded by some curiosity, this post-apocalyptic science-fiction project does not seem destined for the Croisette this year.
- Mysticism project (Brady Corbet): After the shock of The Brutalist, Corbet’s next Cannes step is more likely to be 2027.
Films that are not ready
For these projects, the question does not even arise yet: they are either in the middle of shooting or still at the writing or pre-production stage.
In shooting or immediate post-production
- Santo Subito! (Bertrand Bonello): Filming only ends at the time of the festival. Impossible to deliver a copy.
- De Noche (Todd Haynes): Pedro Pascal has only just started shooting this 1930s Californian noir.
- Jengira’s Magnificent Dream (Apichatpong Weerasethakul): The Thai master began shooting in Sri Lanka in February 2026; his long editing process puts him out of the running.
- Soleil blafard (Nuri Bilge Ceylan): The Turkish filmmaker is currently behind the camera in Ankara.
- Badinter (Pierre Godeau): The biopic starring Jérémie Renier is still in production.
- La Symphonie du sens (Charlotte Le Bon): Currently shooting this spring in Montreal, the film targets a 2027 release.
- The Masque of the Red Death (Charlie Polinger): The project with Léa Seydoux and Mikey Madison is in production.
- Les Jours d’avant (Stéphanie Pillonca): Shooting for this film linked to the November 2015 events is underway.
In development or pre-production
- Digger (Alejandro G. Iñárritu): Thierry Frémaux confirmed the film with Tom Cruise would not be ready. Warner Bros seems to prefer an autumn launch (Venice or Telluride).
- Transcendentalist project (Richard Linklater): This historical “buddy movie” with Ethan Hawke and Natalie Portman will only be shot during 2026.
- Le Serpent Majuscule (Anne Fontaine): Shooting with Isabelle Huppert will not begin until winter 2026-2027.
- Gilead (Todd Field): The project seems stalled since the success of TÁR.
- If Love should die (Mia Hansen-Løve): The film is still in pre-production in England.
- Dragon (Brandon Cronenberg): Announced in development, Cronenberg’s space project has not yet entered active production.
- Belly of the Beast (Andrew Haigh): The Norman Mailer biopic remains in pre-production.
- Prison project (Damien Chazelle): Despite a prestigious cast (Cillian Murphy, Daniel Craig), the film seems more suited to a world premiere in Venice.
- Look Back (Hirokazu Kore-eda): The director is focusing on another more advanced project than this manga adaptation.
- Switzerland (Anton Corbijn): The film about Patricia Highsmith with Helen Mirren is still awaiting production.
Other projects on hold
We also note in our forecasts the near-certain absence of new films by Michel Franco (documentary in Poland), Andrew Haigh, Joana Hadjithomas & Khalil Joreige (Beirut Baby), Stéphane Demoustier, Mikhaël Hers, Alice Rohrwacher (anthology), as well as the animation projects of Joel Crawford, Olivier Clert and Cécile McLorin Salvant. Finally, Quentin Tarantino’s project The Movie Critic has been officially abandoned by the filmmaker if anyone was still dreaming about it.
Be First to Comment