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Cannes 2026 competition features Farhadi, Almodovar and Zvyagintsev

Organisers unveiled 21 films for the 79th Cannes main competition, highlighting international auteurs, a thinner Hollywood presence and Park Chan-wook as jury president.

Apr 9th 2026 · France

Insights

  • Twenty-one directors are in the main competition, including Iran's Asghar Farhadi, Spain's Pedro Almodovar and Russia's Andrey Zvyagintsev.
  • Hirokazu Kore-eda and former winner Cristian Mungiu are cited among the frontrunners for the Palme d'Or.
  • Park Chan-wook will head the jury, the first South Korean to hold the role.
  • Major Hollywood studios have a reduced presence at this edition of Cannes.
  • Honorary Palme d'Or awards will be given to Barbra Streisand and Peter Jackson.
  • The out-of-competition slate includes football documentaries on Eric Cantona and the 1986 England-Argentina match and John Travolta's directorial debut.

Sources