Chasing the Gold: 2026 Cannes Lineup

·52 min·5 clips

The 2026 Cannes lineup is out today, and it's missing something big.

The episode begins with host Shadon Larky announcing the 2026 Cannes lineup has just been released. Guest Max joins to analyze the initial selection. They immediately note the lineup is more international and less American-centric than the previous year, which they view positively. However, Max points out a significant lack of diversity, with the lineup being predominantly European and male, and lacking films from Africa and Latin America. The conversation briefly shifts to Oscar news, revealing the 2027 and 2028 ceremonies will be held in March and will move from the Dolby Theater to YouTube. Returning to Cannes, they discuss returning festival favorites like Isabelle Huppert and Virginie Effira. Key competition titles are highlighted, including Ryusuke Hamaguchi's 'All of a Sudden', the Romanian film 'Fjord' starring Sebastian Stan, and 'The Unknown' from an 'Anatomy of a Fall' co-writer. They note distributor Neon has already acquired several titles like 'All of a Sudden' and 'Fjord'. Other notable competition films include 'Coward' from Lucas Doth, 'Parallel Tales' by Asghar Farhadi, and 'Hope' from South Korean director Na Hong-jin. The out-of-competition section is dominated by discussion of Nicholas Winding Refn's 'Her Private Hell', his first film in a decade. Other out-of-competition titles mentioned include 'The Electric Kiss', 'Full Fulfill', and 'Teenage Sex and Death'. They touch on the Midnight section and special screenings, including a John Travolta film and a zombie movie from Yeon Sang-ho. The hosts speculate on potential Palme d'Or winners, with Max predicting Neon will likely win again due to acquisitions. They conclude by discussing films absent from the lineup and sharing recent viewing recommendations.

As heard by us

A measured Cannes lineup read that places Hope and Parallel Tales on the early Oscar radar.

The Cannes lineup turns into an early Oscar pressure check in this Chasing the Gold discussion, as awards editor Shadon Larky and returning guest Max size up the 2026 titles with equal parts festival curiosity and awards-season restraint.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

If the 2026 Cannes lineup has you opening an early Oscar watchlist, this is your next stop.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from InSession Film Podcast