The 2026 Cannes Film Festival is drawing to a close with a consensus that it has not been a vintage year, with some comparing it to the infamous 2003 edition. The absence of glitzy Hollywood studio films, which usually appear out of competition, has been noted, but the main issue lies with underperforming auteurs. Notable directors such as László Nemes, Pedro Almodóvar, Asghar Farhadi, Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Cristian Mungiu, and Ira Sachs all delivered films considered average, with Hirokazu Kore-eda's 'Sheep in the Box' being a particular disappointment.
Among the few highlights were Andrey Zvyagintsev's 'Minotaur', a powerful study of Russia's collective trauma over Ukraine, and Paweł Pawlikowski's 'Fatherland', a historical drama about Thomas Mann post-war. Rodrigo Sorogoyen's 'The Beloved' and Marie Kreutzer's 'Gentle Monster' also received praise. The festival's French entries were variable, with Emmanuel Marre's 'Notre Salut' standing out among two WWII occupation films.
Predictions for the top prizes include the Palme d'Or going to 'Minotaur', Grand Prix to 'Fatherland', and Best Director to Paweł Pawlikowski. The Jury Prize is tipped for 'The Black Ball'. The imaginary 'Braddies' awards include Best Supporting Actor for Miles Teller in 'Paper Tiger'.
