Cannes 2026: Palme d'Or Contenders Include 'Minotaure', 'La Bola negra', and 'Hope'
The 79th Cannes Film Festival jury, led by South Korean director Park Chan-wook, will announce the Palme d'Or winner on May 23, 2026. Among 22 competing films, favorites include Andrei Zvyagintsev's anti-war 'Minotaure', Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo's queer historical epic 'La Bola negra', and Cristian Mungiu's 'Fjord', inspired by a true story about a devout evangelical family whose children are taken by Norwegian child welfare. The jury, including Isaach De Bankole, Chloe Zhao, Demi Moore, Laura Wandel, and Diego Cespedes, will also award at least six other prizes. French entries received mixed reviews, though performances by Léa Drucker, Adèle Exarchopoulos, and Léa Seydoux were praised. A controversy erupted over a petition targeting Vincent Bolloré, major shareholder of Canal+, leading Canal+ president Maxime Saada to refuse working with its 600 signatories; nearly 3,000 additional signatures have since been added.
Key facts
- 79th Cannes Film Festival jury led by Park Chan-wook.
- Jury includes Isaach De Bankole, Chloe Zhao, Demi Moore, Laura Wandel, Diego Cespedes.
- Palme d'Or winner announced May 23, 2026 at 20:15 CET.
- 22 films in competition; successor to Jafar Panahi's 'Un simple accident' (2025 Palme d'Or).
- Andrei Zvyagintsev's 'Minotaure' is an anti-war film by the exiled Russian director.
- Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo's 'La Bola negra' received a 20-minute standing ovation.
- Cristian Mungiu's 'Fjord' is inspired by a true story about a family and Norwegian child welfare.
- Controversy: petition against Vincent Bolloré led to Canal+ president Maxime Saada blacklisting signatories.
- Nearly 3,000 additional signatures on the petition, including Javier Bardem and Ken Loach.
- French films 'Notre salut', 'La Vie d'une femme', 'Garance', 'L'Inconnue' received mixed reviews.
Entities
Artists
- Park Chan-wook
- Isaach De Bankole
- Chloe Zhao
- Demi Moore
- Laura Wandel
- Diego Cespedes
- Jafar Panahi
- Andrei Zvyagintsev
- Javier Ambrossi
- Javier Calvo
- Pedro Almodovar
- Cristian Mungiu
- Renate Reinsve
- Sebastian Stan
- Javier Bardem
- Swann Arlaud
- Léa Drucker
- Adèle Exarchopoulos
- Léa Seydoux
- Ken Loach
- Vincent Bolloré
- Maxime Saada
- Park Chan Wook
- Christian Mungiu
- James Gray
- Andrei Zviaguintsev
- Emmanuel Marre
- Rodrigo Sorogoyen
- Pawel Pawlikowski
- Maria-Carolina Pina
- Étienne Sorin
- Ben Croll
- Gershon Kingsley
- Grace Jones
Institutions
- Cannes Film Festival
- Canal+
- Zapper Bolloré
- RFI
- Le Figaro
- Variety
- IndieWire
- The Wrap
Locations
- Cannes
- France
- South Korea
- Russia
- Spain
- Romania
- Norway
- United States