10 Best Movies at Cannes 2026

Get the Culture newsletter
Daily culture — film, music, books, the trends and ideas worth your attention. Free.
- Cannes Film Festival concluded its 79th edition on May 23, 2026, featuring a diverse international lineup.
- All of a Sudden by Ryusuke Hamaguchi, starring Virginie Efira and Tao Okamoto, won Best Actress but was passed over for the Palme d’Or, which went to Cristian Mungiu’s “Fjord”.
- All of a Sudden is a three‑hour‑plus drama exploring the bond between a French healthcare administrator and a Japanese playwright dying of cancer.
- The Beloved by Rodrigo Sorogoyen, starring Javier Bardem and Victoria Luengo, is a Spanish competition entry that examines a filmmaker’s abusive dynamic with his actor daughter.
- Honorable mentions at Cannes included “Bitter Christmas”, “La Bola Negra”, “The Man I Love”, “Moulin”, “The Station”, and “Titanic Ocean”.
Why it matters: Japanese director Ryusuke Hamaguchi's “All of a Sudden” wins Best Actress, boosting his film's profile despite missing the Palme d’Or, while Cannes' mixed reception underscores the festival's challenge to maintain its prestige.




