Cannes 2026: Penélope Cruz, Tilda Swinton, and a Mermaid Actress on the Red Carpet

At the Cannes Film Festival on Thursday, two competition films premiered: 'La bola negra' by Spanish directors Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, and 'Coward' by Belgian director Lukas Dhont. Penélope Cruz drew attention on the red carpet alongside the cast of 'La bola negra', while Tilda Swinton attended a public talk despite not being in any festival film. At the photocall for 'Titanic Ocean' (Un Certain Regard section), actress Arisa Sasaki stood out dressed as a mermaid, honoring her role in the film set at a Japanese boarding school that teaches teenage girls to perform as mermaids in aquariums and amusement parks. 'La bola negra' is a drama inspired by Federico García Lorca's unfinished novel and Alberto Conejero's play 'La piedra oscura', co-written by Conejero. It follows three gay men (played by Guitarricadelafuente, Miguel Bernardeau, and Carlos González) in three eras: 1932, 1937, and 2017. 'Coward' is set during World War I and follows two soldiers who boost morale by improvising theatrical performances.