Cinema

Hunting for the Palme d'Or: the 10 most anticipated films at the Cannes Film Festival

Scheduled from 12 to 23 May, the 79th edition of the French festival presents a competition of the highest level

by Stefano Biolchini and Andrea Chimento

6 May 2026

4' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

4' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Everything is now ready for the 79th edition of the Cannes Film Festival. Scheduled to take place from 12 to 23 May, the famous French film festival presents a packed bill of highly anticipated titles. The competition focuses more than ever on extremely cinephile and quality names, and we have chosen ten truly unmissable titles from those vying for the Palme d'Or.

Fjord by Cristian Mungiu

Since that historic Palme d'Or he won in 2007 for '4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days', the Romanian director has not missed a film since and today he is, without a doubt, one of the most important authors in world cinema. Seeing his work is a privilege and, four years after the splendid 'Wild Animals', he is back behind the camera to tell the story of a Romanian immigrant family living in Norway. The protagonists are two stars of contemporary cinema, Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve, and you really don't need anything else to consider this one of the most eagerly awaited titles not only among those coming to the Croisette but of the entire film year.

Cannes: i 10 film più attesi
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Minotaur by Andrej Zvyagintsev

There is a screening at the Cannes Film Festival that already creates a thrill just thinking about it. Nine years after his last film (the beautiful 'Loveless') one of the greatest Russian directors of contemporary cinema has finally returned to show one of his new productions. In recent years Zvyagintsev has had to cope with a serious illness and several productions that did not go well, in addition of course to the situation in Russia that certainly did not help him. 'Minotaur' is a co-production between France, Latvia and Germany and we are sure that within it there will be a reflection on Russia in recent years.

El ser querido by Rodrigo Sorogoyen

Perhaps it may come as a surprise to find the Spanish director's name even on the podium of the most awaited films of Cannes, but we have no doubt: after a feature film like 'As bestas' and a series like 'Ten New Years', Sorogoyen has become one of the most relevant names in European cinema and his new film is among those we are really looking forward to. At the centre is the story of an established director and his daughter, an unsuccessful actress, who meet again after so many years on a set. Starring Javier Bardem.

Fatherland by Pawel Pawlikowski

Pawlikowski at last. Eight years after the beautiful 'Cold War', the great Polish director is back behind the camera for a new black and white feature that promises to be elegant and refined. We are still in the middle of the Cold War, in this film about a journey made by the novelist Thomas Mann together with his daughter Erika. In the role of the latter is Sandra Hüller, one of the most important actresses in world cinema: three years ago she was in competition at Cannes with both 'The Zone of Interest' and 'Anatomy of a Fall'.

All of a Sudden by Ryusuke Hamaguchi

When he last screened at Cannes five years ago, Japanese director Ryusuke Hamaguchi had brought a powerful feature film 'Drive My Car' to the Croisette. The hope of the many fans of his cinema is that those emotions can be relived in this new film. The plot, based on a 2019 book, seems to promise a lot of emotion: the director of a retirement home on the outskirts of Paris struggles to live up to her self-imposed oath not to fail to provide 'humane care' to her patients, plagued by staff shortages and a lack of understanding from her colleagues. One day, she meets the Japanese Mari, a theatre director by whose work and personality she becomes fascinated, regaining confidence in herself and her work.

Sheep in the Box by Hirokazu Kore-eda

Already winner of the Palme d'Or with 'A Family Affair', Kore-eda returns to competition at the Cannes Film Festival with a film that draws on a purely science-fiction theme. We are in the near future when a couple welcomes a humanoid robot into their home as if it were their own child. Kore-eda being one of the great singers of family dynamics in contemporary cinema, curiosity can only be high.

Gentle Monster by Marie Kreutzer

Four years after 'The Empress's Corset', the Austrian director is back behind the camera to direct a film that focuses on complex family dynamics and discusses the theme of love, trust and deception. The cast includes two iconic faces of transalpine cinema: Léa Seydoux and Catherine Deneuve.

Moulin by László Nemes

The talented director of 'Son of Saul' and 'Sunset' had presented his third feature film, 'Orphan', last September in Venice, and it is a great pleasure to find him again in Cannes with this new project. At the centre is the character of Jean Moulin, soldier and partisan, hero of the French Resistance. In the lead role, Gilles Lellouche.

Amarga navidad by Pedro Almodóvar

Fiction within fiction, meta-stories and the elaboration of strong traumas: the typical ingredients of the Spanish director's cinema come together in this film that promises to be touching and strongly autobiographical. Almodóvar is fresh from winning the Golden Lion at Venice two years ago with 'The Room Next Door', while his last time in competition at Cannes was in 2019 with the extraordinary 'Dolor y gloria'.

Paper Tiger by James Gray

Two brothers pursue the American dream, but are caught up in a dangerous plot linked to the Russian mafia that will test their bond. It only takes a few lines of the synopsis to be confronted with a film that is perfectly in the vein of the director of 'Little Odessa' and 'Masters of the Night'. The last film announced among those in competition at Cannes is also the most eagerly awaited American title of all the festival sections. The cast includes Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson and Miles Teller.