Congo Boy, Semaine de la Critique, and Quinzaine des Cinéastes at Cannes 2026

The 79th Cannes Film Festival, the world's largest cinema event, is underway from May 16, 2026. Among the highlights is the Central African film 'Congo Boy' by Rafiki Fariala, produced by Boris Lojkine. The fiction film follows a young Congolese refugee in Central Africa caring for his four siblings while preparing for his baccalaureate, dreaming of winning a UNICEF singing competition. Lojkine, whose film 'L'Histoire de Souleymane' was selected at Cannes in 2024, also serves as the godfather of the Institut Français' La Fabrique this year. The festival also features the Semaine de la Critique and Quinzaine des Cinéastes, with RFI as a partner. Notable screenings include 'In Waves', an animated film by Phuong Mai Nguyen that opened the Semaine, and 'Shana' by Lila Pinell, selected for the Quinzaine.