Cannes Film Festival calls for entries ahead of 79th edition

Submissions is currently open for films seeking consideration in the Official Selection of the 79th edition of the prestigious Cannes Film Festival.

Otherwise known as Festival de Cannes, the event is scheduled to hold from May 12, 2026 to May 23, 2026 in France.

The festival will bring together filmmakers, actors, producers and creative minds for nearly two weeks of premieres, screenings and industry activity.

According to the organisers, deadlines for enteries are vary by categories, with February 15 set for school films under the La Cinéfondation (La Cinef) selection, March 2 for short films and March 13 for feature-length films.

“All debut feature films selected across the festival’s major sections, including the Official Competition, Un Certain Regard, Out of Competition, the Directors’ Fortnight and the Critics’ Week (Semaine de la Critique), will be eligible for the Caméra d’Or, which honours the best first film.

“The festival also highlighted opportunities beyond the main competition. The Short Film Corner, a professional networking and screening platform distinct from the official competition, is exclusively reserved for short films. Submissions to this section are paid and must be completed online via the Cinéma de Demain platform.

“Meanwhile, the Marché du Film, Cannes’ international film market, will once again allow producers and sales agents to organise paid market screenings for buyers and distributors. Further details are available through the Marché du Film’s official channels.”