The 79th Cannes Film Festival has unveiled its 2026 lineup, with Pedro Almodóvar’s Karma starring Rami Malek, Ebon Moss-Bachrach,Rebecca Hall, and Tom Sturridge taking center stage. The festival, running from May 12 to 23, also features highly anticipated films from acclaimed directors like Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Michel Leclerc, and Asghar Farhadi.

Almodóvar’s ‘Karma’: A Star-Studded Return to Cannes

Pedro Almodóvar’s Karma is one of the most anticipated films of the festival, marking the Spanish director’s return to Cannes. The film stars Rami Malek, known for his roles in Bohemian Rhapsody and Mr. Robot, alongside Ebon Moss-Bachrach from Andor, Rebecca Hall, and Tom Sturridge. According to the festival’s announcement, Karma promises to be a dramatic exploration of fate and human connections, a theme Almodóvar has masterfully navigated in past works like Volver and Pain and Glory.

Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s ‘Soudain’: A Follow-Up to ‘Drive My Car’

Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Soudain is another highlight of the lineup. The Japanese director, who won the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film for Drive My Car, returns with a new project that promises to delve into the complexities of human relationships. As reported by the festival organizers, Soudain is expected to continue Hamaguchi’s tradition of blending intimate character studies with broader social commentary.

Asghar Farhadi’s ‘Parallel Tales’: A New Chapter in Iranian Cinema

Asghar Farhadi, the Iranian director known for A Separation and The Salesman, presents Parallel Tales. This film is particularly noteworthy as it marks Farhadi’s first appearance at Cannes since The Salesman won the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar in 2017. According to the festival’s press release, Parallel Tales explores interconnected narratives that span different cultures and time periods,showcasing Farhadi’s signature storytelling style.

What’s Missing: The Absence of Female Directors

While the lineup features a diverse range of films from international directors, one notable absence is the lack of female directors in the main competition. This year’s selection includes only a handful of films directed by women, such as Nadia Tereszkiewicz’s Une Vie Manifeste and Carole Lambert’s Sanguine. The festival has faced criticism in the past for its gender imbalance, and this year’s lineup may reignite those discussions.. As the festival’s announcement notes, only about 20% of the films in the main competition are directed by women, a statistic that has remained relatively stagnant over the years.