AceShowbiz - The official lineup for the 79th edition of the Cannes Film Festival has been announced, spotlighting notable appearances on the red carpet, including two French icons who will take on multiple roles: Léa Seydoux and Catherine Deneuve.

During a press event held in Paris, artistic director Thierry Fremaux alongside festival president Iris Knobloch, revealed the official selection, including the prestigious competition section and the Un Certain Regard program for the 2026 festival.

Catherine Deneuve will be featured in Parallel Tales, the latest film by acclaimed Iranian director Asghar Farhadi, marking his first project since A Hero. The film boasts a remarkable French ensemble cast, also including Isabelle Huppert, Virginie Efira, Vincent Cassel, and Pierre Niney. This film will compete in the main competition at Cannes.

Both Deneuve and Léa Seydoux star in Gentle Monster, directed by Marie Kreutzer, known for Corsage. The drama explores the intertwined lives of two women: Seydoux plays Lucy, a celebrated pianist who puts her career aside to care for her husband after his burnout, relocating with their son to the countryside. The other woman, Elsa, portrayed by Jella Haase, balances her demanding role as a special police investigator with the responsibility of caring for her father suffering from dementia. This film, described as a story about “trust and deception, love and violence,” is also part of the Cannes competition lineup.

In addition, Seydoux leads the cast of The Unknown, a new film from director Arthur Harari, who previously collaborated with his partner Justine Triet on the Oscar-winning Anatomy of a Fall. Adapted from Harari’s own graphic novel, the film follows a man who wakes up in the body of a woman after a passionate one-night encounter. The North American rights were pre-acquired by Neon, a distributor known for backing six previous Palme d’Or winners. The Unknown will also screen in the festival’s competition section.

Among other prestigious honorees, New Zealand director Peter Jackson, famed for The Lord of the Rings trilogy, will receive an honorary Palme d’Or for his lifetime contributions to cinema. Additionally, actress, singer, and director Barbra Streisand, an EGOT recipient, will be similarly honored.

The 79th Cannes Film Festival is scheduled to take place from May 12 through May 23, 2026, promising a star-studded event with compelling films and notable tributes on the Croisette.