The Croisette will be buzzing, the red carpet will be dazzling, and Canada will be shining bright at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, taking place May 12 to 23, 2026 and Cannes Film Market, May 12 to 20! With a strong presence at this 79th edition, we’ll be cheering on our filmmakers, producers, and other talent, while facilitating business and coproduction opportunities for the Canadian audiovisual industry.
Please join us! We’ve got three films in selection complemented by an exciting market presence, including a special Docs-in-Progress Canada Showcase, our beloved Not Short on Talent program, genre pitches at Frontières, and much more. Of course, our Canada Pavilion is back (stand #127) to facilitate networking and make it easy for potential international partners to connect with Canada and discover all we have to offer. Don’t miss our two dedicated information sessions.
Read on for your guide to what we’ve got planned for Cannes 2026!
FESTIVAL SELECTION
Cannes Première
Gessica Généus’ Marie Madeleine (France-Haiti-Belgium-Luxembourg-Canada)
Written, directed by, and starring acclaimed Haitian filmmaker Gessica Généus, and backed by Montréal-based Metafilms as collaborator, this lyrical drama blends realism and subtle surrealism to explore faith, desire, and female autonomy in contemporary Haiti. Shot in Jacmel, the film follows a free‑spirited woman whose path crosses that of a young evangelical preacher, unsettling both their worlds. The film marks Généus’ second feature, following Freda, which premiered in Un Certain Regard at Cannes in 2021 and went on to earn more than 25 international awards.
Directors' Fortnight
Jorge Thielen Armand’s Death Has No Master (Venezuela-Canada-Italy-Luxembourg)
Canada is a minority coproducer in this anticipated thriller making its world premiere in the festival’s prestigious Director’s Fortnight! This third feature from Canadian-Venezuelan filmmaker Jorge Thielen Armand, stars Italian actress Asia Argento and explores brutality, justice, and property rights during the Venezuelan crisis. Armand is no stranger to the festival circuit; his award-winning 2016 debut La Soledad premiered at the Venice Film International Film Festival.
Critics' Week
Romain F. Dubois’s Skinny Boots
What happens when it’s a pickpocket’s turn to deal with payback? This comedic short by Romain F. Dubois follows the misadventures of a pickpocket who turns to his young cousin, left in his care for the day, to help him figure out a way to repay his ex before the clock runs out.
MARKET SCREENINGS AND ACTIVITIES
Cannes Docs
Docs-In-Progress | Canada Showcase (in partnership with RIDM, the Montreal International Documentary Festival)
From exploring family legacy to the impacts of war and personal looks at shared history, Canadian documentary excellence takes centre stage in this special market presentation of four new Canadian feature-length docs, all in their final production stages and seeking international distributors.
Here’s your sneak peek at what the Canada Showcase has to offer:
Ashley Duong’s Ba’s Book (Intuitive Pictures)
Legacy, war, and displacement are among the themes of this documentary, as Duong travels to her father’s ancestral village. Inspired by his memoir about the Vietnam war, this feature-length film is a hybrid of documentary and live action. The film is produced by Oscar®, BAFTA, Emmy nominated and Peabody Award-winning producer, Ina Fichman of Intuitive Pictures Productions.
Constanza Chaput-Raby’s Parrandas (Les Productions Club Vidéo)
This Canada-Cuba coproduction tells the story of a young boy who is excited to join his Cuban village’s Christmas eve tradition of revelry and fireworks, even though this ritual nearly killed him 11 years ago.
Dan Popa’s Sisters of the Union (TAK films)
Fantasy and autobiography meet in this tale about communism in Romania, told through the lens of the filmmaker’s family as five women share their perspectives, representing different eras of this history.
Sofia Bohdanowicz’s Steve’s Version (La Maison du Bonheur Films)
This diary film follows Bohdanowicz as she travels to Europe to try to piece together her grandfather’s life story to make a film about him, at her uncle’s request. Presently developing her sixth feature, this award-winning Toronto-based filmmaker is also known for her features, which have screened at festivals around the world, including the Berlinale, Locarno, TIFF and the New York Film Festival.
Frontières
Dedicated to genre projects, Frontières Platform is co-presented by Canada’s very own Fantasia International Film Festival and the Cannes Film Market. Over two thrilling days, May 16 and 17, some of Canada’s finest genre films are among the worldwide projects participating in this year’s anticipated Frontières platform!
In the Proof of Concept section, we’ve got two projects in development, including a coproduction:
Gwynne Phillips & Briana Templeton’s Baldoon (Broken Compass Films)
Marking the directorial debut of the comedy duo, this feature is set in 1829. A widow is blamed when a farm is haunted. But what will the truth reveal?
Kourtney Roy’s Spiral (Canada-France-Belgium coproduction; Goodbye Productions)
A young artist desperate for art world acclaim and validation finds herself in a spiral of madness, and – you guessed it – carnage ensues. Fun fact: In 2024, Kryptic, her debut, turned heads at SXSW.
And, in post-production at the Buyers Showcase, we’ve got:
Shayne Putzloche’s The Wrath (Trilight Entertainment, Filmoption International)
What happens when mysterious legends turn out to be true? On a voyage to Thailand, a newlywed couple are about to find out when they set out to make a film about the legend of a manipulative spirit, Mae Nak.
Not Short On Talent
Telefilm Canada is also delighted to showcase its Not Short on Talent program at the Cannes Short Film Corner. This year, eight new short films will be presented to the industry. The selected filmmakers will benefit from exclusive mentorship opportunities, including training sessions and a dedicated pitch event. All eight films will be accessible through the Short Film Corner’s Video Library.
Read our article about Not Short on Talent at Cannes 2026, right here.
And don’t miss the on-stage presentation of their films at TEASE THE AUDIENCE, on Monday, May 18 at 11:30 am, at the Palais Stage (Level −1).
Create With Canada | Info Sessions
Want to partner with Canada? Discover why we’re your creative and business partner of choice, and how to collaborate with us on your next audiovisual project!
Please join us for either of two special information sessions to meet and ask your questions to key players from the Canadian audiovisual industry! From early inspiration to silver screens, Canada has everything you need to bring your audiovisual project to life: accessible public financing, modern production industry, world-class talent, and diverse, welcoming culture.
Taking place at the Canada Pavilion #127, these sessions will highlight regional financial incentives and coproduction benefits across provinces, while helping to demystify the Canadian audiovisual ecosystem for international producers and offering valuable resources to strengthen cross‑border collaboration. Be sure to register!
Friday, May 15 at 10:30-11:30 a.m
Spotlight on Creative BC, Calgary Economic Development Film Commission/Edmonton Screen and the Indigenous Screen Office. Moderated by Telefilm Canada.
Sunday, May 17 at 10:00 -11:00 a.m
Spotlight on Ontario Creates, Manitoba Film & Music and Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA). Moderated by Telefilm Canada.
The countdown is on, and Canada is Cannes-ready. For a complete list of all our activities, keep your eyes on our event webpage: Canada’s delegation at Cannes 2026.
See you there!
