Farhadi returns to Cannes competition with ‘Parallel Tales’
Iranian Oscar-winning filmmaker Asghar Farhadi will compete for the Palme d’Or at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival from May 12 to 23 in Cannes, unveiling a 21-film main lineup that also features Spain’s Pedro Almodóvar and Russia’s Andrey Zvyagintsev.
Farhadi’s new feature, ‘Parallel Tales,’ will screen in the main competition, marking a high-profile return to the Croisette for one of contemporary cinema’s most decorated auteurs.
The film brings together an international cast including Isabelle Huppert, Vincent Cassel, Virginie Efira and Catherine Deneuve, in a multinational co-production spanning France, the United States, Belgium and Italy.
Festival general delegate Thierry Frémaux said the United States would be “represented,” though major studios are largely absent this year, shifting the spotlight toward global auteurs and independent voices. The selection includes multiple entries from Japan and Spain, marking a broad international sweep.
Farhadi, a two-time Academy Award winner for ‘A Separation’ (2012) and ‘The Salesman’ (2017), returns to Cannes after securing the Grand Prix for ‘A Hero’ in 2021. His long-time collaborator, Iranian editor Hayedeh Safiyari, is cutting ‘Parallel Tales’ in their seventh joint project, reinforcing a creative partnership that has shaped his precise, character-driven narratives.
The jury will be chaired by South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook, the first from his country to hold the post, succeeding French actress Juliette Binoche. Honorary Palme d’Or awards will go to Barbra Streisand and Peter Jackson.
Out of competition, the festival will feature works ranging from aviation-themed storytelling by John Travolta to sports documentaries revisiting iconic football moments involving Diego Maradona.