Cannes Directors’ Fortnight Announces 2026 Lineup with Star-Studded Films

The Directors’ Fortnight, an independent sidebar competition running alongside the Cannes Film Festival, announced its lineup for the 58th edition in 2026. The selection features a diverse array of films from international directors, including established auteurs and first-time filmmakers.

The lineup opens with Butterfly Jam, the English-language debut from Russian director Kantemir Balagov, known for his 2019 drama Beanpole. S. community of Circassian immigrants, the film stars Barry Keoghan, Riley Keough, Harry Melling, and Monica Bellucci.

It is produced by Alexander Rodnyansky’s AR Content, Pascal Caucheteux’s Why Not Productions, and Goodfellas, which is handling sales.

Key International Entries Romanian director Radu Jude follows his previous work with an adaptation of Octave Mirbeau’s The Diary of a Chambermaid, starring Ana Dumitrascu, Vincent Macaigne, and Mélanie Thierry.

British filmmaker Clio Barnard returns for her third appearance in the section with I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning, adapted by Enda Walsh from Keiran Goddard’s novel about five friends from a council estate. The ensemble cast includes Anthony Boyle, Joe Cole, Jay Lycurgo, Daryl McCormack, and Lola Petticrew.

From Argentina, Lisandro Alonso presents Double Freedom, a follow-up to his 2001 debut La Libertad, revisiting the protagonist in a different historical context.

South Korean director July Jung brings Dora, starring Sakura Ando and Kim Doyeon, which centers on a young woman whose illness eases through love. Jung’s prior films include A Girl at My Door in 2014 and Next Sohee in 2022. The selection also includes Reed Van Dyk’s Atonement, a drama about an Iraqi war veteran starring Kenneth Branagh, Hiam Abbass, and Boyd Holbrook.

Nigerian brothers Arie Esiri and Chuko Esiri offer Clarissa, a reimagining of Mrs. Dalloway shot in 35mm, featuring Sophie Okonedo, David Oyelowo, and Ayo Edebiri. This marks their second feature after Eyimofe, which premiered in Berlin and won five African Movie Academy Awards.

Animated and Debut Films Three animated features are included, with Quentin Dupieux’s Le Vertige serving as the closing film.

Shot entirely in 3D using motion-capture, it features voices from Dupieux’s collaborators and marks his second entry at Cannes this year, following Full Phil in the Midnight Screening section. Another animation, an adaptation of Bizet’s Carmen, comes from a French director whose previous work won awards at Annecy and the César.

First-time directors are represented by six entries, including Thai filmmaker Sompot Chidgasornpongse’s 9 Temples to Heaven, a collaboration linked to Apichatpong Weerasethakul.

Other films include Once Upon a Time in Harlem, a documentary that debuted at Sundance; Maxence Voiseux’s Gabin; Alain Cavalier’s Thanks for Coming, part of his series on aging and filmmaking; and works like L’Espèce Explosive by Sarah Arnold and Death Has No Master by Jorge Thielen Armand.

Artistic Direction and Context Artistic Director Julien Rejl announced the lineup at a press conference in Paris, noting a shift toward including more established directors alongside discoveries.

Neon has pre-bought rights to Clarissa and Once Upon a Time in Harlem. The Directors’ Fortnight continues its tradition of showcasing independent cinema, with last year’s selection including a debut that won the Caméra d’Or and reached the Academy Awards shortlist. The full feature selection comprises 20 films, blending drama, animation, and documentary formats.

This edition adds star power through its casting while maintaining focus on innovative narratives. The event runs parallel to the main Cannes festival, providing a platform for non-competitive independent works.