Cannes 2026 Opens with Samuel Paty Film and Fast & Furious 25th Anniversary

The 79th Cannes Film Festival opened on May 13, 2026, with 22 films competing for the Palme d'Or. The opening film, out of competition, was Vincent Garenq's 'L'Abandon,' a drama about the final days of history teacher Samuel Paty, who was murdered by a Chechen jihadist in 2020. The film stars Antoine Reinartz and Emmanuelle Bercot, who discussed the importance of fiction in portraying such tragedies. The festival also highlighted Asian cinema, with South Korean director Park Chan-wook serving as the first Korean jury president. Notable competition entries include Na Hong-jin's thriller 'Hope' and Hirokazu Kore-eda's 'Sheep in the Box.' The festival celebrated pop culture with a 25th anniversary tribute to the 'Fast & Furious' franchise, attended by Vin Diesel and Michelle Rodriguez, with an eleventh film already planned for 2028. The event was presented by Sonia Patricelli with contributions from France 24 cinema critic Albéric de Gouville.