Last Updated on 29 April 2026 by frenchflicks
Celebrate the glitz, the glamour, and the cinematic mastery of the French Riviera! As the world turns its eyes toward the Croisette, we’ve curated a front-row seat for you to experience the spirit of the world’s most prestigious film festival right from your living room.
The 79th Festival de Cannes: What You Need to Know
The wait is almost over! From May 12 to May 23, 2026, the 79th Cannes Film Festival will transform the South of France into the epicenter of global cinema. This year is particularly historic, as South Korean visionary Park Chan-wook(the mastermind behind Oldboy and Decision to Leave) serves as the President of the Jury, marking the first time a Korean filmmaker has held this prestigious position.
The 2026 selection is already buzzing with highly anticipated titles, including:
- The Electric Kiss (Opening Film)
- Amarga Navidad by Pedro Almodóvar
- The Birthday Party by Léa Mysius
- Coward by Lukas Dhont
While the stars climb the 24 steps of the Palais des Festivals, you can join the celebration with these 10 hand-picked highlights playing this May on TV5MONDE and TV5MONDE+.
10 Must-Watch Films to Celebrate Cannes
1. L’enfant qui mesurait le monde (The Boy Who Measured the World)
Watch it on: TV5MONDE — May 5 at 8:30pm ET
This touching 2023 dramedy follows Alexandre, a powerful developer who discovers a new lease on life through his autistic grandson, Yannis, in Greece. Yannis’s unique way of “measuring” the world provides a beautiful, rhythmic perspective on life. This film earned its stripes as a selection at the Cannes Écrans Juniors 2024, proving that the best stories often start with an unexpected bond.
2. Mambar Pierrette
Watch it on: TV5MONDE (May 10) & TV5MONDE+ (Starting May 6)
A powerful piece of social realism, this drama introduces us to Pierrette, a resilient seamstress in Douala. If you enjoyed the grounded, empathetic grit of the Dardenne brothers or American indies like Nomadland, you’ll appreciate this portrait of quiet bravery. It was a standout selection at the Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes (2023).
3. Le plus bel âge (The Best Way to Walk)
Watch it on: TV5MONDE (May 12) & TV5MONDE+
Step back into 1994 with this intense drama featuring French icons Élodie Bouchez and Melvil Poupaud. Set in the high-pressure world of a prestige French classroom, the film explores love and hazing after a tragic student suicide. It graced the Un Certain Regard selection at Cannes in 1995 and remains a definitive look at the volatile nature of youth.
4. La mer au loin (Across the Sea)
Watch it on: TV5MONDE (May 17) & TV5MONDE+ (Starting May 6)
In this 2024 drama, Nour emigrates clandestinely from Morocco to Marseille, navigating a life of small-time trafficking until a mysterious police officer changes everything. This film captured hearts recently, winning the Audience Award at Mannheim-Heidelberg after being selected for the Critics’ Week at the Cannes Film Festival (2024).
5. Trois souvenirs de ma jeunesse (My Golden Days)
Watch it on: TV5MONDE (May 19) & TV5MONDE+
Arnaud Desplechin’s masterpiece is a sweeping coming-of-age story that feels like the French cousin to Boyhood. It follows Paul (Mathieu Amalric) as he reminisces about his childhood in Roubaix and his first great love. A winner of the César for Best Director, it was a major highlight of the Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes (2015).
6. La nuit du 12 (The Night of the 12th)
Watch it on: TV5MONDE — May 24 at 8:30pm ET
If you’re a fan of Zodiac or True Detective, this is a mandatory watch. This haunting thriller follows the investigation of a cold case involving a young woman’s murder. It swept the César Awards with six wins (including Best Film) after its prestigious debut in the Cannes Première category in 2022. It is, quite simply, one of the best thrillers of the decade.
7. Rosalie
Watch it on: TV5MONDE — May 26 at 8:30pm ET
Set in 1870, this 2023 drama stars Nadia Tereszkiewicz as a woman hiding a hairy secret—until she decides to stop hiding. Featuring Benoît Magimel, this beautiful story of self-acceptance and love was an official selection at the Cannes Film Festival (2023) in the Un Certain Regard section.
8. Ava
Watch it on: TV5MONDE (May 31) & TV5MONDE+ (Starting May 6)
Before Léa Mysius was a Cannes regular, she broke through with Ava. It’s a bold, sun-drenched dramedy about a 13-year-old girl losing her sight who decides to live her remaining “visible” days to the fullest. It won the SACD Prize at the Cannes Critics’ Week (2017) and is a visually stunning exploration of teenage rebellion.
9. Les règles du jeu (The Rules of the Game)
Watch it on: TV5MONDE (May 3) & TV5MONDE+ (Starting May 6)
This 2013 documentary is a fascinating, often humorous look at the “theatre” of the job hunt. Following three young people without degrees as they learn the corporate “codes,” it was selected for ACID Cannes (2014). It’s a real-life look at the roles we all have to play to survive.
10. Béatrice Dalle, à prendre ou à laisser
Watch it on: TV5MONDE (May 14) & TV5MONDE+ Cannes wouldn’t be Cannes without its icons. This documentary looks back at the rock’n’roll career of Béatrice Dalle, who shocked the world in 37°2 le Matin (Betty Blue). It’s an intimate portrait of a woman who embodied total freedom, narrated by the legend herself.
Bonus Escape: Don’t miss Hôtel du Cap Eden Roc, un paradis sur terre on May 20 (TV5MONDE), also streaming on TV5MONDE+. This 2025 documentary takes you inside the legendary palace where the biggest stars in the world hide away during the festival. It’s the ultimate guided tour of French Riviera luxury!
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