Cannes is more than the red carpet—Cosmo India picks five Cannes 2026 films everyone will be talking about

The 79th edition of the Cannes Film Festival has officially kicked off, and while the internet may currently be busy dissecting sheer gowns, dramatic trains, and red carpet beauty looks, Cannes has always been about far more than fashion. The glamour may dominate social media feeds every year, but at its core, the festival is still one of the most important celebrations of cinema in the world.

Running from May 12 to 23, this year’s edition feels especially exciting because the spotlight is firmly back on auteur-driven filmmaking, emotionally rich storytelling, and ambitious films from every corner of the world. While Hollywood blockbusters seem to be taking a quieter seat this year, Cannes 2026 is packed with directors and actors who know exactly how to create stories that linger long after the credits roll.

From Pedro Almodóvar’s deeply personal new drama to James Gray’s crime-filled American dream nightmare, the lineup is already generating major awards-season chatter. There is also a strong South Korean presence, exciting regional Indian cinema making its way onto the global stage, and several projects that sound impossible to ignore. Naturally, we had to narrow down the films everyone will inevitably be talking about for the rest of the year.

So here are five films from the 79th edition of the Cannes Film Festival that Cosmopolitan India thinks absolutely deserve a spot on your watchlist.

Paper Tiger

James Gray’s Paper Tiger is easily one of the biggest English-language premieres at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. The crime drama, premiering at the festival on May 16, features an irresistible lineup including Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, and Miles Teller. Set in late 1980s New York, the film follows two brothers who get pulled into a dangerous world of crime and corruption while chasing their own versions of the American dream. You can expect something intense, layered, and emotionally heavy in classic James Gray fashion.

Balan: The Boy

Balan: The Boy, directed by Malayalam filmmaker Chidambaram, best known for the survival drama Manjummel Boys, is one of the Indian films creating buzz at Cannes this year. Set for a theatrical release on June 19, the film explores the themes of identity, survival, and the emotional bond between a mother and child as a young boy searches for his missing mother. With its Cannes screening, the project is already being seen as an important moment for Malayalam cinema on the international stage.

Hope

South Korean filmmaker Na Hong-jin returns to Cannes with Hope, a sci-fi thriller. The film stars Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, Hoyeon, and Taylor Russell in a story set near the North Korean border, where a mysterious tiger sighting slowly turns into something much darker and stranger. Na Hong-jin is best known for creating atmospheric thrillers like The Wailing, so expectations are already sky-high. The film premieres at Cannes on May 17, and is currently scheduled for a summer 2026 theatrical release in South Korea.

Bitter Christmas

Few filmmakers understand emotional chaos quite like Pedro Almodóvar, and his latest film, Bitter Christmas, sounds devastating in the best possible way. The Spanish-language tragicomedy stars Bárbara Lennie and Leonardo Sbaraglia, and follows a commercial director trying to navigate grief after the death of her mother. The film blends heartbreak, creativity, and memory, which makes it a must-watch irrespective of linguistic barriers. Bitter Christmas has already been released in Spanish theatres, and will premiere internationally at Cannes on May 19.

September 21

September 21 is another Indian film heading to the Cannes Film Festival through the Marché du Film screenings. Starring Pravin Singh Sisodia, Priyanka Upendra, Zarina Wahab, and Amit Behl, the film is set during the COVID-19 pandemic and follows an elderly Alzheimer’s patient who becomes convinced that his wife is quarantining in the house next door after creating the story in his own mind. Equal parts haunting and heartbreaking, the film joins a growing wave of Indian independent cinema increasingly finding audiences far beyond the country. It also marks the directorial debut of Karan Kshiti Suvarna.

Lead image: IMDb

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