The choice is clear, powerfully symbolic, almost a manifesto. The Cannes Film Festival unveiled on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, the official poster for its 79th edition, which will take place from May 12 to 23. And it is neither Anouk Aimée, nor Catherine Deneuve, nor a legendary filmmaker who adorns the visual: it is Thelma and Louise, the two mythical fugitives embodied by Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon in Ridley Scott's 1991 film, presented at Cannes that same year in the "out of competition" selection. Hood up, scarf flying, 1966 Ford Thunderbird speeding towards a blazing orange sunset: the graphic composition by the Bronx studio (Paris) is immediately iconic.
An Openly Political Manifesto
The choice is not neutral, and Festival General Delegate Thierry Frémaux fully embraces it. In the press release published precisely at 9 a.m. on the Festival's official website, he states that this poster intends "to pay homage to a film that, in 1991, changed the way cinema heroines were viewed" and "to place the 79th edition within a feminist, free, and political continuity." The context is all the more significant as the global film industry is undergoing a profound post-#MeToo crisis, marked by the Polanski and Depardieu trials in France and by new cases revealed in the wake of the Weinstein trial in the United States. Ridley Scott, 88, will be present on the Croisette for an exceptional masterclass on May 16.
Electric Venus to Open the Festival
The Festival also confirmed the opening film on Wednesday: it will be Pierre Salvadori's "La Vénus électrique", a satirical comedy about the generative AI industry starring Léa Seydoux, Romain Duris, and Pio Marmaï. A world premiere screening scheduled for the evening of May 12, followed by an official dinner at the Carlton. The film, financed by Mandarin Production and Pathé for 18 million euros, will be released in theaters on May 20. According to Télérama, "La Vénus électrique" could also compete out of competition for the Palme d'Or, by exceptional decision of the Official Selection jury, as was the case for David Lynch's "Twin Peaks: The Return" in 2017.
An Official Selection Already Largely Unveiled
The press release published simultaneously this morning lists the first films selected for the Official Competition. These include Paolo Sorrentino's new film, "Parthenope II"; the highly anticipated film by Justine Triet (two years after her Palme d'Or for "Anatomy of a Fall"); Wes Anderson's "Asteroid City 2"; Adam Elliot's "Memoir of a Snail"; David Lynch's posthumous completed film ("Pulse"); and three offerings from Asia that are already generating significant buzz: Lucio Castro's "Drunken Noodles" (Taiwan-USA), a historical epic by Jia Zhangke (China), and a supernatural thriller by Park Chan-wook (South Korea). The jury for this 79th edition has not yet been announced: it will be revealed on May 6 in Paris.
The Noteworthy Absence of Streaming Platforms
A notable fact: no film financed by Netflix, Apple TV+, or Amazon Prime Video is included in the official selection announced this morning. According to our information, the historical standoff between Cannes and streaming platforms continues, even as Venice and Berlin have relaxed their rules. Thierry Frémaux confirmed that "any film presented in competition at Cannes must be released in theaters in France," a condition that the American majors still refuse to accept. This intransigence could cost the Festival major works, starting with Alfonso Cuarón's highly anticipated new film (Netflix) or Martin Scorsese's latest production for Apple TV+.
A 145 Million Euro Edition
The budget for the 79th edition is confirmed at 145 million euros, an 8% increase compared to 2025, with a record 32% funded by private sponsors. L'Oréal Paris, Chopard, Renault, and Nespresso remain primary partners. Chinese brands (Huawei, Tencent Pictures) are absent for the first time since 2018, a direct consequence of trade tensions and US sanctions on semiconductors. Public ticketing, which experienced significant glitches in 2025, has been completely overhauled: a lottery will be held between April 28 and May 5 for residents of Cannes, with reserved quotas. More than 38,000 applications have already been registered in two hours on the official website.
Editorial Opinion
The "Thelma and Louise" poster is a communication coup, but it also raises a nagging question. Is choosing a 1991 film to represent the 79th edition of a festival that aims to set the trend for tomorrow's cinema an implicit admission of a contemporary crisis of inspiration? Where are the Thelma and Louise of the 2020s? The 21st-century heroines who could embody the official poster with the same generational power? The Cannes Film Festival excels at celebrating its past. It remains to be seen, from May 12 to 23, if it can also reveal the future. Our bet: the real surprises of this edition will be hidden in the Asian selection and in the films of the Directors' Fortnight.
Key Takeaways
- Cannes Film Festival 2026: Thelma and Louise star on the official poster for the 79th edition.
- 79th edition from May 12 to 23, 2026, opening with Pierre Salvadori's "La Vénus électrique."
- Official Competition: Sorrentino, Justine Triet, Wes Anderson, Park Chan-wook, Jia Zhangke.
- No streaming platform films selected for competition.
- Budget of 145 million euros, record 32% private funding.
