Cannes ready to cast light on glamour world
The 79th edition runs May 12-23, featuring Johansson, Travolta, and a historic jury led by Park Chan-wook
ATT Desk Report
The French Riviera is set to shimmer once again as the 79th Cannes Film Festival prepares to unfold from 12-23 May 2026, bringing a potent mix of Hollywood glamour, arthouse prestige and cinematic innovation to the iconic Croisette.
The Cannes Film Festival, held annually in Cannes, France, is one of the most prestigious events in global cinema. Established in 1946, it brings together leading filmmakers, actors, and industry figures for a curated programme of premieres, awards, and red-carpet moments.
This year’s edition boasts a headline-grabbing lineup. Scarlett Johansson returns to Cannes alongside Adam Driver in the highly anticipated Paper Tiger, while John Travolta marks a significant career milestone by presenting his directorial debut, Vol de Nuit pour Los Angeles, in the Cannes Premières section.
The competition for the prestigious Palme d’Or is fierce, with 22 films in the running. Arthouse heavyweights including Pedro Almodóvar (Amarga Navidad), Hirokazu Kore-eda (Sheep in the Box), and Cristian Mungiu (Fjord) will vie for top honors against emerging talents. Industry buzz particularly surrounds Kore-eda’s AI-themed Sheep in the Box and Na Hong-jin’s Hope, starring real-life partners Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander.
Presiding over the nine-member jury is acclaimed South Korean director Park Chan-wook, joined by US star Demi Moore and Oscar-winning filmmaker Chloé Zhao, signaling one of the festival’s most globally inclusive years.
Beyond the red carpets, Cannes continues to embrace the public. A free beach screening of Les Caprices de l’enfant roi at the Cinéma de la Plage, with cast members Artus and Franck Dubosc in attendance, promises a signature Riviera experience.
Special tributes will honour Lord of the Rings filmmaker Peter Jackson and legendary entertainer Barbra Streisand with honorary Palme d’Or awards. The festival opens with Pierre Salvadori’s The Electric Kiss and concludes on May 23 with the Palme d’Or ceremony.
With enhanced security and transport arrangements in place, Cannes 2026 reaffirms its position as the world’s most influential film festival where artistic excellence meets global celebrity under the Mediterranean sun.
