The Festival de Cannes will expand the Official Selection screenings with exchanges featuring leading figures in contemporary cinema.
This year, the series will kick off with Sir Peter Jackson, the day after he is awarded his Honorary Palme d’Or. Cate Blanchett and Tilda Swinton will also take part in these discussions, offering the Cannes audience three special opportunities for unique conversations.
Rendez-vous with…Sir Peter Jackson – Wednesday May 13th
In Cannes on May 13th, 2001, the first images of “The Lord of the Rings” were revealed, launching the global success of the Middle Earth saga. Sir Peter Jackson and New Line Cinema embark on a path of glory and international recognition, from critics and audiences alike, gaining 17 Oscars and 3 billion dollars at the box office. Twenty-five years later, the Festival de Cannes honors a filmmaker who elevated heroic fantasy and transformed Hollywood.
His trilogy, shot in New Zealand, revolutionized visual effects and the cinematic imaginary, firmly anchoring Tolkien in pop culture. Sir Peter Jackson has pursued a consistently stimulating career from major productions, such as “King Kong,” “The Hobbit,” to ambitious documentaries, such as “They Shall Not Grow Old” and, recently, “The Beatles: Get Back.”
During his time at the Festival de Cannes 2026, where he will be awarded a Palme d’Or d’honneur, he has agreed to take part in a public discussion.
Rendez-vous with…Cate Blanchett – Sunday May 17th
Cate Blanchett’s rich and varied performances in films such as “Tár,” “Carol,” “I’m Not There,” “Blue Jasmine,” and “Elizabeth” have earned her two Oscars, four BAFTAs, and four Golden Globe Awards. First attending Cannes in 1999, she served as Jury President in 2019, and also headed up the jury at Venice in 2020. Cate Blanchett has received numerous honors throughout her career, including the BFI Fellowship, the Kubrick Award, the Goya Award, the AACTA Award, and the Donostia Award. She has been named Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in France and Companion of the Order of Australia.
She co-leads production company Dirty Films with Andrew Upton and Coco Francini. She has founded the Proof of Concept program supporting women, trans and non-binary voices, as well as the Displacement Film Fund for refugee filmmakers and those telling stories of displacement. As in 2025, she will host a panel at the Festival de Cannes 2026 to announce the next cohort of artists it supports.
Rendez-vous with…Tilda Swinton – Thursday May 21st
Widely regarded as one of the most original and powerful performers of her generation, Tilda Swinton is known for her versatility, having moved seamlessly between experimental arthouse cinema and major Hollywood productions. She gained international recognition in 1992 for “Orlando,” directed by Sally Potter. A longtime collaborator of Derek Jarman, she appeared in all his films from 1985 until he died in 1994, winning Best Actress at the 1991 Venice Film Festival for “Edward II.” Tilda Swinton has worked repeatedly with leading directors: Wes Anderson, Joanna Hogg, Jim Jarmusch, Bong Joon-ho, and won an Academy Award and a BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2008 for “Michael Clayton.” During the 2004 Festival de Cannes, she also proved to be a generous and rigorous Jury Member.
The 2026 Cannes Film Festival will run from May 12th until May 23rd. Cody Dericks and Nadia Dalimonte will be attending with me in-person this year from Next Best Picture.
Are you excited for the 2026 Cannes Film Festival? Are you planning to attend the festival this year? What do you think of this announcement? Please let us know in the comments section below or on our X account.
