Founded in 1946 and held annually in Cannes, France, The Cannes Film Festival is the most prestigious film festival in the world. Now in its 79th edition, the festival will be held from May 12 to May 23, 2026. The festival has a significant Canadian presence this year, featuring B.C. panelists, delegates, and films.
Presence from British Columbia
As part of Telefilm iMPACT Lab, Olivia Golosky (Experimental Forest Films) will participate as a Lab Producer. iMPACT Lab provides a unique opportunity for experienced and emerging professionals to exchange ideas, reflect on the industry’s current landscape, and engage in constructive debate to bring impactful projects to life, strengthen co-productions, and champion a diverse film industry.
Also powered by Telefilm Canada, Canada: Not Short on Talent 2026 will screen the B.C. short BARE directed by Lucy McNulty and Miranda MacDougall at the festival, offering a fresh and captivating story from rising Canadian filmmakers.
B.C.’s Eloane Venkatapen was selected as one of the five international screenwriters invited to pitch at Cannes Marché du Film during the Pitch Sans Frontières Forum with her project LANMÈ, produced by Sara Blake and Magali Gillon.
On May 15, at the Canada Pavilion, there will be a panel titled “Create With Canada,” featuring Creative BC’s CEO, Prem Gill, as a panelist for the first Info Session. Moderated by Telefilm, the sessions will provide professionals with the opportunity to meet and ask questions to key players from the Canadian audiovisual industry.
Delegates from British Columbia
Attending via Creative BC’s Passport to Markets:
Tina Pehme from Sepia Films
Amber Ripley from Goodbye Productions
Jason James from Resonance Films Inc.
Daniel Smith Arnold from Alley Originals Inc.
Christine Haebler from Terminal City Pictures
Trish Dolman from Screen Siren Pictures Inc.
Emily Alden from Pitchblack Pictures Inc
Krista Gruen
Mayumi Yoshida from Musubi Arts Inc.
Films from British Columbia
Un Certain Regard | Opening Film
TEENAGE SEX AND DEATH AT CAMP MIASMA (dir. Jane Schoenbrun)
A queer director making a slasher franchise sequel becomes obsessed with casting the original film’s ‘final girl,’ leading both women into psychological and sexual chaos.
Canada: Not Short on Talent 2026
BARE (dir. Lucy McNulty, Miranda MacDougall)
Newly single and out of her depth, Daphnée’s hunt to find the one person who saw her accidental ‘nude’ leads her through a hilariously chaotic journey of self-discovery and modern love.
Official Selection | Special Screenings
Based on the book by B.C. author Sarah Leavitt, TANGLES follows a young woman who is forced to return to the conservative small town where her bizarre family lives to take care of her mother, having to deal with the cruel reality of her mom’s Alzheimer disease and become the daughter they need.
Frontières Platform | Proof of Concept
In the City of Light, young artist Katie spirals into a pit of madness and mayhem, leaving a trail of bloody carnage through the elite art world whose recognition she so desperately craves.
