Cannes 2026: Canal+ and Vincent Bolloré controversy rocks film festival
The 2026 Cannes Film Festival has been overshadowed by a deepening crisis involving Canal+ and its majority shareholder Vincent Bolloré. A petition signed by 600 film professionals, including actors Juliette Binoche and Adèle Haenel, accused Bolloré of allowing far-right influence to grow in French cinema. Canal+ CEO Maxime Saada responded by stating the company would no longer work with any of the signatories, a move critics have likened to a blacklist. The dispute has polarized the Croisette. Meanwhile, the festival continued with premieres: Gilles Lellouche walked the red carpet for "Moulin" directed by László Nemes, and Adèle Exarchopoulos for "Garance" by Jeanne Herry. The South Korean director Na Hong-jin presented "Hope," an ultra-violent horror thriller that received one of the longest standing ovations of the edition.
Key facts
- Cannes 2026 is marked by a controversy involving Canal+ and Vincent Bolloré.
- 600 film professionals signed a petition denouncing far-right influence in cinema.
- Signatories include Juliette Binoche and Adèle Haenel.
- Canal+ CEO Maxime Saada said the company will no longer work with the signatories.
- Critics accuse Canal+ of creating a blacklist.
- Gilles Lellouche attended the premiere of 'Moulin' by László Nemes.
- Adèle Exarchopoulos attended the premiere of 'Garance' by Jeanne Herry.
- Na Hong-jin's 'Hope' received one of the longest standing ovations at the festival.
Entities
Artists
- Juliette Binoche
- Adèle Haenel
- Gilles Lellouche
- László Nemes
- Adèle Exarchopoulos
- Jeanne Herry
- Na Hong-jin
Institutions
- Canal+
- Festival de Cannes
- France 24
Locations
- Cannes
- France