Understanding the Cannes Film Festival: Indian Films and Their Journey

Indian Films at Cannes 2026

At the upcoming 79th Cannes Film Festival in 2026, six Indian films are poised to make an impact. However, not all of them will be officially screened. The festival is often misinterpreted, as it encompasses two distinct events: the official festival selection and the film market. While both occur during the same ten-day period, they serve entirely different functions. Therefore, it’s crucial for film enthusiasts to grasp this distinction. The Cannes Film Festival comprises two significant events happening concurrently. One is the renowned festival at the French Riviera, where each country showcases a select few titles as part of the 'Official Selection.' The other is the Marché du Film, which serves as the film market. But what does this entail? Let’s delve deeper...

Understanding Selection and Screening

Selection and Screening - The Difference

In the weeks leading up to the Cannes Film Festival, updates about films 'going' to Cannes frequently surface. Filmmakers often use this term to elevate their projects, even if it involves clever wordplay. This year, India's lineup includes titles such as Shadows of the Moonless Night, Amma Ariyan, Chardikala, September 21, Balan: The Boy, Lakadbaggha 2: The Monkey Business, Gudgudi, Spirit Of The Wildflower, and First Ray Films Slate. However, only the first two films, Shadows of the Moonless Night and Amma Ariyan, are officially recognized entries for Cannes 2026 and are eligible for official screenings. The others are intended for the Marché du Film.

What is Marché du Film?

What is Marché du Film?

Also known as the Cannes Film Market, this annual event is one of the largest film marketplaces globally. Established in 1959, it runs alongside the Cannes Film Festival. This market focuses on the business and trade aspects of cinema, where films are bought, sold, financed, and promoted to the global entertainment sector. While the festival emphasizes artistic recognition and awards, the Marché du Film centers on commerce, networking, and distribution. Thousands of producers, distributors, streaming platforms, investors, studios, and filmmakers gather to negotiate international distribution rights, seek funding, pitch new projects, secure deals, and arrange co-productions.

Distinguishing Cannes Official Selection

How is it different from Cannes Official Selection?

This is where confusion often arises. India will have a notable presence at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, although no Indian films are included in the main Palme d’Or competition lineup this year. However, Shadows of the Moonless Night and Amma Ariyan have been directly invited by the Cannes Film Festival programming team after a thorough artistic evaluation process. These films will compete in various sections, including Competition (Palme d’Or, Grand Prix, Jury Prize, Un Certain Regard, Directors’ Fortnight, Critics’ Week, and Cannes Classics).

Insights from Director Gaurav Madan

Director Gaurav Madan explains

Gaurav Madan, the director of the acclaimed film Barah x Barah, noted that filmmakers worldwide often use the marketplace to enhance their projects' visibility. He shared with a media outlet, "People are intentionally spreading misleading information about their participation in the main Cannes Film Festival while they are merely involved in the Marché du Film, where anyone can pay to showcase a logo, a film snippet, or a synopsis." Madan emphasized that filmmakers leverage social media to announce their films' presence at Cannes, which can overshadow genuine entries like All We Imagine as Light, which is part of the competition. He stressed the importance of fact-checking in this context.

Recent Official Selections at Cannes

Movies selected for Cannes in past 5 years

For those unfamiliar, here are the films that were officially selected for screening at the Cannes Film Festival over the past five years. 2021: Payal Kapadia's A Night of Knowing Nothing was featured in the Directors’ Fortnight section and won the Golden Eye documentary prize. Satyajit Ray's Charulata was included in Cannes Classics. 2022: Shaunak Sen's All That Breathes was selected for the Golden Eye. Dhuin by Achal Mishra (Directors’ Fortnight) and Pratidwandi by Satyajit Ray (Cannes Classics) were also chosen. India was the official "Country of Honour" at the 2022 Marché du Film, with six Indian films, including Alpha Beta Gamma, Boomba Ride, and Rocketry: The Nambi Effect, screened. 2023: Anurag Kashyap's Kennedy (Midnight Screenings), Kanu Behl's Agra (Directors’ Fortnight), Chidananda Naik's Ishanhou (Classics section), and Yudhajit Basu's Nehemich (Short Films) were featured. 2024: Payal Kapadia's All We Imagine as Light was nominated for the Palme d'Or and won the Grand Prix, marking the first Indian film to achieve this in three decades. The Shameless by Konstantin Bojanov and Santosh by Sandhya Suri were selected for Un Certain Regard. Shyam Benegal's Manthan was included in Cannes Classics. 2025: Homebound by Neeraj Ghaywan was screened at Un Certain Regard, while Aranyer Din Ratri by Satyajit Ray was featured in Cannes Classics. A Doll Made Up of Clay by Kokob Gebrehaweria Tesfay was selected for La Cinef competition. While the Cannes Film Festival increasingly highlights celebrity appearances and media coverage, the core purpose of the festival often takes a backseat, a concern voiced by film critics annually.