From Morocco and Palestine to Egypt and Iran, four films from the MENA region have secured places in the Cannes Film Festival 2026 lineup.
The Middle East and North Africa will enjoy a strong presence at the Cannes Film Festival 2026, with four films by regional filmmakers selected across the festival’s prestigious sections. Set to run from 12 to 23 May 2026, the 79th edition of Cannes will once again bring the global film industry to the French Riviera, where premieres, red carpet appearances and major cinematic debuts are expected to dominate the cultural conversation.
This year, the MENA region is represented by titles connected to Egypt, Palestine, Morocco and Iran, underlining the breadth of storytelling emerging from the region. The selected works span both Competition and Un Certain Regard, two of Cannes’ most closely watched categories, and place a spotlight on filmmakers with distinct voices and varied cinematic perspectives.
Among them is La Mas Dulce from Moroccan director Laila Marrakchi, which has been selected for Un Certain Regard. Marrakchi is no stranger to Cannes. Her debut feature, Marock, screened in the same section in 2005. Her latest film marks her third feature and follows two young Moroccan women who travel to southern Spain for seasonal strawberry-picking work, only to confront abuse and harassment. As the story unfolds, they decide to speak out.
Also selected for Un Certain Regard is Yesterday the Eye Didn’t Sleep, the first feature from Palestinian filmmaker Rakan Mayasi. Set in a Bedouin village in the Bekaa Valley, the film centres on Gamra, a missing young girl accused of setting fire to the vehicle of the man she loved after he chose to marry someone else. The premise suggests a story rooted in longing, social tension and the pressures of community life.
Representing Egypt is The Unknown, directed by Egyptian-French filmmaker Arthur Harari. The psychological fantasy film is loosely inspired by the graphic novel Le cas David Zimmerman, which Harari co-wrote with his brother Lucas. Starring Léa Seydoux and Niels Schneider, the film adds another Cannes selection to Harari’s growing international profile. He previously appeared at the festival with Onoda: 10,000 Nights in the Jungle in 2021 and later won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay alongside Justine Triet for Anatomy of a Fall.
Iranian auteur Asghar Farhadi also returns to Cannes with Parallel Tales. The acclaimed director has a long history with the festival, having previously screened The Past in Competition, won Best Screenplay and Best Actor for The Salesman, and taken the Grand Prix for A Hero. His latest film, a remake of the late Krzysztof Kieslowski’s “Dekalog VI,” features a heavyweight cast including Isabelle Huppert, Virginie Efira, Vincent Cassel, Pierre Niney, Adam Bessa and Catherine Deneuve.
Together, these selections reflect the creative depth and global relevance of MENA cinema. At a festival known for shaping awards season and elevating international auteurs, the region’s presence at Cannes 2026 feels both timely and significant.
Cannes Film Festival 2026 takes place from 12 to 23 May in Cannes, France.
Contact: www.festival-cannes.com