Best of Cannes 2026: 20 Critics’ Picks From This Year’s Festival
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- Cannes Film Festival was described by director Thierry Frémaux as quieter than usual, with fewer major American titles and lower‑profile stars.
- Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s film All of a Sudden earned praise for its 3¼‑hour dialogue‑driven narrative that delivers a “levitating grace,” according to critic Jessica Kiang.
- Rodrigo Sorogoyen’s The Beloved, starring Javier Bardem, was highlighted for its meta‑cinematic plot and Bardem’s “subtle power” performance.
- Arie Esiri and brother Chuko Esiri’s Clarissa, a Lagos‑set adaptation of Woolf’s Mrs Dalloway starring Sophie Okonedo, was lauded for its perceptive look at elite social circles.
- Jordan Firstman’s film sparked the festival’s most heated bidding war, indicating strong buyer demand for genre‑blending content.
Why it matters: The festival’s 20‑film critics’ list gives international buyers a clear roadmap, driving higher acquisition bids—evidenced by the fierce war over Jordan Firstman’s work—and shifting market focus toward non‑US cinema.
