The Cannes Film Festival 2026 is set to witness a notable presence from the regional film industries of India, with Punjabi, Malayalam, and Kannada language films screening across various sections at the prestigious annual event.
Here are the Indian films set to be screened at the 79th edition of the festival, which will take place from May 12 to 23...
• CHARDIKALA (Punjabi)
The film, also known as 'Zakhma Toh Chardikala Tak' and directed by Amarjit Singh Saron, stars Ammy Virk and Roopi Gill. It is set to premiere at Cannes' Marché du Film (film market). The film follows the story of a nurse whose quiet life spirals after she is falsely accused in a major case. As she struggles with loneliness and hardship, she gradually begins helping families dealing with their own challenges.
(Poster courtesy: [email protected])
• BALAN: THE BOY (Malayalam)
Filmmaker Chidambaram, who gained global recognition with 'Manjummel Boys', will present 'Balan: The Boy' at the Marché du Film. Written by Jithu Madhavan, the film centres on a teenage boy searching for his missing mother. The story deals with abandonment, emotional instability, and survival in a harsh social setting. The story is also expected to explore themes of identity and resilience.
• SHADOWS OF THE MOONLESS NIGHT (Punjabi)
FTII student Mehar Malhotra’s short film 'Shadows of the Moonless Night' has been selected for the La Cinef section. Originally titled 'Parchave Masseah Rataan De', the 24-minute film follows Rajan, a night-shift factory worker burdened by financial pressure, overcrowded living conditions, and emotional isolation. As exhaustion and sleeplessness consume him, his psychological balance slowly begins to collapse.
• AMMA ARIYAN (Malayalam)
Filmmaker John Abraham’s experimental film 'Amma Ariyan' (Report to Mother) has been restored in 4K and selected for the Cannes Classics section. Released in 1986, the film is regarded as a defining work of India’s parallel cinema movement. The story follows a young activist named Purushan, who travels across Kerala with a group of companions to inform a mother about the death of her son Hari, a tabla player, believed to have died by suicide.
(Poster courtesy: Shrimoyee Chakraborty/Facebook)
• SPIRIT OF THE WILDFLOWER (Bengali/Hindi)
London-based filmmaker Shrimoyee Chakraborty’s documentary will also be screened in the Marché du Film section. It follows two sisters running India’s first legal mahua distillery. While one dreams of turning their local brew into an internationally recognized brand, the younger sibling hopes to transition and live as a man.
• SEPTEMBER 21 (Hindi/Kannada)
Karen Kshiti Suvarna’s debut feature will have its world premiere at the Palais Theatre on May 16. The film revolves around an elderly Alzheimer’s patient who becomes convinced that his wife is quarantined in the neighboring house during the Covid-19 pandemic. As his memory worsens, his estranged son returns home and struggles with the emotional demands of caregiving and family responsibility.
(Poster courtesy: Instagram@theanshumanjha)
• LAKADBAGGHA 2: THE MONKEY BUSINESS (Hindi)
Actor-director Anshuman Jha’s action thriller will be screened at the Marché du Film ahead of its official world premiere later this year. Backed by German banner Webfilmland Productions, the sequel continues the story of the animal-lover vigilante introduced in the film's prequel.
• GUDGUDI (Hindi)
Directed by Manisha K Makwana and produced by Mukesh Chhabra along with White Peacock Films, the short film stars Ahsaas Channa and will have its world premiere at the Marché du Film segment. The film reportedly explores the emotional journey of a middle-class woman navigating life and personal struggles within the backdrop of an amusement park.
