Cannes Directors’ Fortnight Reveals 2026 Lineup

The Cannes Film Festival is all set to welcome some of the biggest names and talents across the film industry this year. And the anticipation is just as strong around Directors’ Fortnight, the prestigious independent sidebar competition that runs alongside the main festival. After days of speculation surrounding the films expected to feature in the parallel section, Directors’ Fortnight finally has its official lineup for its 58th edition, which includes titles by Lisandro Alonso, Clio Barnard, Radu Jude, Quentin Dupieux, and Kantemir Balagov.

From Barry Keoghan to Kenneth Branagh and many more, the Directors’ Fortnight has a star-studded line-up this year.

The impressive Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight lineup

Butterfly Jam, by director Kantemir Balagov, will serve as the opening film for the 2026 event.

Once Upon a Time in Harlem by William Greaves & David Greaves

Femme De Chambre  (The Diary of a Chambermaid) by Radu Jude

Dora by July Jung

Gabin by Maxence Voiseux

Clarissa by Arie Esiri and Chuko Esiri

L’espèce Explosive (Too Many Beasts) by Sarah Arnold

Low Expectations by Eivind Landsvik

Double Freedom by Lisandro Alonso

We Are Aliens by Kohei Kadowaki

Merci D’être Venu (Thanks for Coming) by Alain Cavalier 

I See Buildings Fall Like Lighting by Clio Barnard

Atonement by Reed Van Dyk

Shana by De Lila Pinell

Death Has No Master by Jorge Thielen Armand

Carmen, L’oiseau Rebelle by Sébastien Laudenbach

9 Temples to Heaven by Sompot Chidgasornpongse

Le Vertige by Quentin Dupieux