The Cannes Film Festival has finally revealed its 2026 competition jury, a nine-member international panel of filmmakers, actors, and writers who will decide the winner of this year’s Palme d’Or at the 79th edition of the festival, running May 12–23.
Of course, leading the jury is president Park Chan-wook, whose Cannes history includes a Grand Prix for “Old Boy” and Best Director for “Decision to Leave.”
The jury will bring together several prominent figures with deep Cannes ties. Demi Moore joins following her acclaimed resurgence in “The Substance,” while Ruth Negga returns to the festival after her work in competition film “Loving.” Also included are French actor Isaach De Bankolé, a frequent collaborator with directors like Claire Denis and Jim Jarmusch, and Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgård, a Cannes veteran whose career spans “Breaking the Waves” to recent award-winning performances in Joachim Trier’s “Sentimental Value.”
Filmmaker Chloé Zhao is there as well, alongside emerging directors such as Chile’s Diego Céspedes and Belgium’s Laura Wandel, both recent Un Certain Regard standouts. They are joined by screenwriter Paul Laverty, long-time collaborator of Ken Loach.
I had already written about Zhao and Moore. Who was Jacob Elordi’s replacement? Regardless, a very nice mix of talent to determine the next Palme d’Or, for which the race will commence eight days from now.
Some of the most notable filmmakers aiming for the top prize this year will include Na Hong-jin, Pedro Almodovar, Cristian Mungiu, James Gray, Andrey Zvyagintsev, Ryusuke Hamaguci, Pawel Pawlikowski, and Asghar Farhadi.