One of the world’s most prestigious gatherings of cinema, the Cannes Film Festival is set to return for its 79th edition between May 12 -23, 2026. Across two weeks, the French Riviera will become the meeting point for directors, filmmakers, actors, and industry insiders from all points of the globe, dressed to the nines, to see which titles will capture the jury’s favor in the forthcoming iteration of the cinematic event.
This year, four features from the wider Middle East and North Africa have been enlisted to compete. From different parts of the region we collectively call home, this 2026 edition will see entries from Morocco, Egypt, Palestine, and Iran step into the spotlight, each vying for the top spots in the categories they’ve been selected to appear in. They are:
La Mas Dulce
Director: Laila Marrakchi
Genre: Drama
Country: Morocco
Cast: Fran Cantos, Itsaso Arana, Fatima Attif
Category: Un Certain Regard
IMDB Synopsis: “Two young women leave their native Morocco to work a season picking strawberries in Spain, until abuse and harassment shatter their hopes. Supported by a Spanish lawyer, they must decide whether to speak out against a powerful system.”
The Unknown
Director:Arthur Harari
Genre:Fantasy
Country: Egypt
Cast: Léa Seydoux, Niels Schneider, Victoire Du Bois
Category: Competition
IMDB Synopsis: “Photographer David Zimmerman rarely leaves home until friends bring him to a wild party. He becomes fixated on a mysterious woman and follows her. By dawn, his life transforms-he awakens in her body.”
Yesterday the Eye Didn’t Sleep
Director: Rakan Mayasi
Genre: Drama
Country: Palestine
Cast: Yasser Al Mawla, Jawaher Al Mawla, Rim Al Mawla
Category: Un Certain Regard
IMDB Synopsis: “In a valley shrouded in fog and tribal codes, two sisters go into the night as an offering. Between blood, memories and silences, they try to contain the fire that threatens to spread.”
Parallel Tales
Director: Asghar Farhadi
Genre: Mystery/Thrill
Country: Iran
Cast: Vincent Cassel, Virginie Efira, Isabelle Hupert
Category: Competition
IMDB Synopsis: “Showcases interconnected narratives exploring the November 2015 Paris attacks.”