The landscape of the Cannes Film Festival is shifting. While the previous year saw Neon dominate the headlines by picking up the Golden Palm winner It Was Just an Accident, along with notable entries like The Secret Agent and Sirat, this year presents a different dynamic. In the past, streaming giant Netflix expanded its library with New Wave and Left-Handed Girl, but the market also saw quieter releases like Die, My Love and Sound of Falling despite their high critical praise.
As we move through the 2026 season, Neon is arriving with a heavy slate, yet there is a noticeable lack of major American studio productions in the official lineup. Industry insiders are watching closely to see how global distributors will fill the void. Below is a comprehensive look at the films that have successfully secured distribution deals during the festival so far.
Netflix Secures a Trio of High-Profile Titles
In a significant move, Netflix has finalized the acquisition of Gentle Monster, a compelling drama directed by Marie Kreutzer. The film features French actress Léa Seydoux, who stars as a visionary pianist whose world collapses following allegations of serious crimes against her husband. This purchase marks Netflix’s third major deal of the festival, following the acquisition of the animated project In Waves and the Spanish historical epic The Black Ball. Critics have already noted that Gentle Monster received a more enthusiastic reception than Seydoux’s other festival entry, The Unknown.
The streaming service also emerged victorious in a high-stakes bidding war for The Black Ball. Directed by the filmmaking duo Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, the film serves as a poetic tribute to the legendary writer Federico Garcia Lorca. Spanning multiple timelines—1932, 1937, and 2017—the narrative follows the interconnected lives of three men. Despite competition from studios like A24 and MUBI, Netflix secured the rights after the film received a standing ovation during its late-festival premiere.
MUBI and A24 Add Critical Favorites to Their Rosters
MUBI has officially expanded its North American catalog by picking up Coward, directed by Lukas Dhont. The Belgian director, previously recognized for the Academy Award-nominated film Close, explores a hidden romance between two soldiers, Pierre and Francis, stationed on the Western Front during the First World War. The film features a breakout performance by Emmanuel Macchia. MUBI already held rights for several international territories, making this North American deal a natural extension of their partnership with The Match Factory.
Meanwhile, A24 has landed what many are calling the biggest breakout hit of the festival: Club Kid. Written, directed by, and starring Jordan Firstman, this New York-based comedy tells the story of a former party organizer who is suddenly forced to care for a child he never knew existed. The film features an ensemble cast including Cara Delevingne and Diego Calva. After a fierce bidding process involving nearly every major distributor, A24 secured the rights to bring this crowd-pleaser to audiences.
Sony Pictures Classics and Independent Distributors Join the Fray
Sony Pictures Classics has been active in the documentary and animation sectors. They acquired the worldwide rights (excluding specific Asian territories) for Rehearsals for a Revolution, a deeply moving documentary by Iranian filmmaker Pegah Ahangarani. The film, which won the Golden Eye award, provides an autobiographical look at the director’s family history against the backdrop of four decades of Iranian conflict. Additionally, the studio picked up Iron Boy, a hand-painted animated feature from Louis Clichy. This story follows a young boy in rural France who must navigate life while wearing a restrictive metal brace.
In the Critics’ Week category, the distributor 1-2 Special acquired La Gradiva, the directorial debut of Marine Atlan. The film, which follows a group of students on a school outing, has been praised for its profound emotional depth and recently secured the Grand Prize in its section. 1-2 Special intends to give the film a full theatrical release, capitalizing on its high ratings and critical momentum.
Acquired before festival
Ahead of a major film festival, distributors have acquired a diverse slate of films, generating considerable buzz. Neon leads with numerous acquisitions, including new works from celebrated directors James Gray (Paper Tiger), Ryusuke Hamaguchi (All of a Sudden), and Hirokazu Kore-eda (Sheep in a Box), many set to compete for top awards. MUBI and Sony Pictures Classics also picked up anticipated films by Andrey Zvyagintsev and Pedro Almodóvar. Additionally, Warner Bros.’ new indie label, Clockwork, is debuting an uncut restoration of Ken Russell’s controversial classic, The Devils, in Cannes Classics, planning special theatrical engagements.
