Cannes

• High-profile celebrities including Teyana Taylor, Janet Jackson, Cardi B, and Doechii gathered in Los Angeles for the 2026 BET Awards. • The event featured a series of red carpets, live performances, and exclusive brunches designed to celebrate Black excellence in entertainment. • Other major global events, such as Paris Fashion Week and the Cannes Lions, also saw appearances from stars like Zendaya, Tyla, and Colman Domingo.

• Asia won four Lions at the 2026 Cannes Lions in categories including Entertainment, Gaming, and Sports. • Winning work came from countries such as Japan, Singapore, and Taipei, showcasing their creative talent. • Thailand had a strong presence in the Film shortlist with various agencies, while FP7 McCann Dubai and Ogilvy Singapore led in Brand Experience & Activation.

• Asia secured one Silver Lion and three Bronze Lions across the Cannes Entertainment tracks, including categories for Gaming, Music, and Sport. • Notable Bronze winners include LePub Singapore for Tiger Beer’s ‘Curfew Hostels,’ Luck Tokyo for Mazda’s ‘Goodbye RX-7,’ and Whatever Tokyo for Kao Corporation’s ‘Silent Cleaning.’ • The awards highlight creativity that transforms branded content into culture, with only 20 Lions (3 Gold, 6 Silver, 10 Bronze) awarded from 656 total entries.

• The Cannes Lions 2026 awards announced Grand Prix winners across multiple categories, including Entertainment, Gaming, Music, Sport, Design, and various Craft disciplines. • Notable wins include a double Grand Prix for adidas’ collaboration with Oasis, created by TBWA\Media Arts Lab Los Angeles, alongside victories for Google, DAVID New York, and McCann Peru. • Apple TV and TBWA\Media Arts Lab Los Angeles were recognized for their 2025 rebrand, which eschewed AI in favor of a handcrafted logo and intro made entirely of glass.

• Cannes Lions 2026 has announced the shortlist for the Entertainment Lions category, featuring 62 finalists. • The selection highlights brands that successfully transformed branded content into entertainment through film, talent, and cultural experiences. • This category is a critical benchmark for measuring how brands compete with traditional entertainment to drive cultural conversations and build brand value.

• The Karlovy Vary Film Festival has finalized its 2026 lineup, adding the Cannes winner 'Fjord' and 'Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma' to its schedule. • The updated program features a "Horizons" section highlighting festival circuit favorites and an "Afterhours" program, which was previously titled "Midnight Screenings." • These additions emphasize the festival's commitment to showcasing a diverse range of genre hits and critically acclaimed international cinema.

• The first working session between independent film distributors and international film agencies was held in Cannes, hosted by Europa Distribution and Marché du Film, to improve collaboration. • The session was part of the Sorrento Industry Days, which also included an Italy-Spain comparison on distribution and the CinemaHora Forum in Moldova to support new filmmakers. • Other notable events include the Europa Distribution Network Conference in Brussels and the upcoming launch of HBO Max in six European countries on 13 January.

• The European Producers Club met in France to elect its leadership board for the 2026-2027 term to strengthen the voice of independent production. • Re-elected board members include Carlotta Calori, Carlotta Cà Zorzi, Gudny Hummelvoll, Dariusz Jablonski, Marc Missonier, and Friedrich Radmann, joining existing members such as Ed Guiney and Anita Juka. • The organization is prioritizing strategic industry campaigns, most notably the "Europe needs Cinema, Cinema needs Europe" initiative.

• A film critic highlighted standout titles from the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, noting a decrease in traditional Hollywood spectacle compared to previous years. • Key recommendations include "All of a Sudden" by Japanese director Ryûsuke Hamaguchi and "Fjord," starring Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve. • "Fjord" depicts a conflict between religious conservatism and secular liberalism in Norway after an evangelical couple is accused of child abuse.

• Critics Jacob Stolworthy and Patrick Smith have released a curated list of the eight best movies screened at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival. • The selection features a diverse range of genres, including a metaphysical drama, a monster movie, and a sweeping epic positioned as a strong awards contender. • A highlighted entry is a new film from the director of "4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days," starring Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve.

• Romanian director Cristian Mungiu won his second Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival for the film ‘Fjord,’ marking the seventh year that Neon has taken the top prize. • Other notable winners included the films ‘Minotaur,’ ‘Fatherland,’ and ‘The Black Ball.’ • The Best Actress award was shared by Virginie Efira and Tao Okamoto for their roles in Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s “All of a Sudden,” a French-Japanese production.

• Cristian Mungiu won the prestigious Palme d'Or for his film *Fjord* at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival. • The jury, led by Park Chan-wook, awarded the Grand Prix to *Minotaur* and named Pawel Pawlikowski (*Fatherland*) and the duo Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo (*The Black Ball*) as best directors. • These awards highlight the top cinematic achievements of the year, cementing the global prestige of the winning filmmakers and their projects.

• Cristian Mungiu’s political drama 'Fjord' was awarded the prestigious Palme d'Or at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival. • Andrey Zvyagintsev won the Grand Prix for his film "Minotaur," using his acceptance speech to urge Vladimir Putin to end the conflict in Ukraine. • The event highlighted a shift in the festival's cultural scope, with increased integration of tech, luxury, wellness, and fashion alongside cinema.

• Romanian director Cristian Mungiu won the prestigious Palme d'Or at the 79th Cannes Film Festival for his drama "Fjord," which explores clashing cultures in Norway. • This victory marks the second time Mungiu has received the festival's top prize, highlighting his continued influence in international cinema. • The event also featured a video message from 84-year-old Barbra Streisand, who accepted an award while praising the power of film to unite people.

• Cristian Mungiu won the prestigious Palme d'Or for his film *Fjord* at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival. • The Grand Prix was awarded to *Minotaur*, while Pawel Pawlikowski (*Fatherland*) and the duo Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo (*The Black Ball*) shared the Best Director prize. • The awards were determined by a jury led by acclaimed filmmaker Park Chan-wook, marking a significant moment for international cinema.

• The South Korean monster movie "Hope," produced by Plus M Entertainment, has emerged as the most divisive and wild entry at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival. • The film is generating significant buzz and debate among critics and audiences due to its unconventional and shocking nature. • This reaction highlights the festival's role as a platform for provocative cinema that challenges traditional storytelling and genre boundaries.

• Romanian director Cristian Mungiu won the prestigious Palme d'Or for his film "Fjord" at the 79th Cannes Film Festival on May 23, 2026. • The winning film is described as a thought-provoking drama centered on a Christian family living in Norway. • This victory marks the second time Mungiu has received the festival's top prize, cementing his status as a leading figure in international cinema.

• Romanian director Cristian Mungiu won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival on Saturday for his Norway-set drama "Fjord," which explores political polarization. • This victory marks the second time Mungiu has received the festival's top honor, having previously directed "4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days." • The Camera d’Or for best first film was awarded to Marie Clémentine Dusabejambo’s "Ben’Imana," the first Rwandan film to be officially selected for the event.

• Romanian director Cristian Mungiu won his second Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival for his English-language debut, *Fjord*. • The drama stars Renate Reinsve and Sebastian Stan as religious Romanian parents who face child abuse accusations after relocating to Norway. • At 58, Mungiu becomes only the 10th director to win the top prize twice, joining an elite group that includes Francis Ford Coppola and Michael Haneke.

• The Norway-set drama *Fjord*, which explores the theme of political polarization, was awarded the prestigious Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. • Director Cristian Mungiu made history by winning the prize, becoming only the 10th filmmaker to win the award twice. • Honorary laureate Barbra Streisand was unable to attend the Saturday ceremony due to a knee injury, though she was celebrated by Isabelle Huppert and shared a taped message.

• Peter Jackson received an honorary Palme d'Or at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, recognizing his legendary contributions to cinema. • Jane Fonda and Gong Li declared the festival officially open on stage, highlighting the event's celebration of international cinema and iconic figures. • The festival continues its tradition of honoring filmmaking excellence while bringing together major talent from Asia and around the world.

Absence of big US films heralds renewed focus on international cinema that underpins festival’s reputationFor decades, Cannes has occupied a unique place in the cultural imagination – not just as the world’s most prestigious film festival, but as Hollywood’s most glamorous overseas outpost.From Grace Kelly on the Croisette, Quentin Tarantino and Uma Thurman at the Pulp Fiction premiere, Julia Roberts walking barefoot up the red carpet, to Tom Cruise shutting down the Riviera with fighter jets overhead, Hollywood has made its mark on Cannes. Continue reading...

The 79th edition of the film festival will see work by Pedro Almodóvar, Hirokazu Kore-eda and László Nemes considered for the coveted Palme d’OrGillian Anderson, Rami Malek, Cara Delevingne and John Travolta are expected to walk the red carpet at Cannes this year, as the world’s most influential film festival unveiled an auteur-heavy lineup for its 79th edition.Competing for the coveted Palme d’Or will be new films by heavyweights Pedro Almodóvar, Hirokazu Kore-eda, Paweł Pawlikowski, László Nemes and Asghar Farhadi. Continue reading...