Cannes 2026: Three Critics Assess the 79th Edition

The 79th Cannes Film Festival, held in May 2026, is underway with a highly competitive Palme d'Or race. The jury, presided over by South Korean filmmaker Park Chan Wook, will choose from a lineup including films by Christian Mungiu (Romania), James Gray (USA), Andrei Zvyagintsev (Russia), and newcomers Emmanuel Marre and Rodrigo Sorogoyen. Contenders include Pawel Pawlikowski's 'Fatherland,' Zvyagintsev's 'Minotaure,' and Gray's 'Paper Tiger.' The festival is also marked by a political controversy: a petition signed by 600 French cinema professionals denouncing the influence of billionaire Vincent Bolloré and his far-right ideological project on French cinema. Three critics—Maria-Carolina Pina (RFI's Spanish-language service, host of 'Carrusel de las artes'), Étienne Sorin (Le Figaro), and Ben Croll (Variety, IndieWire, The Wrap)—discuss films, highlights, disappointments, and the political climate.