Our social media feeds are flooded with stunning looks from the red carpet of the 79th Cannes Film Festival. Everyone is judging, scrutinising, rating and discussing the fashionable outfits. But it just made me wonder: have we made Cannes a celebration of fashion when, in reality, it should be about films? Can we move past the red carpet and talk about the films that these guests are watching? And can we talk more about all the Indian film representation happening at Cannes this year? Let’s discuss this here!
What Did Alia Bhatt Watch At The Cannes Film Festival?
Alia Bhatt served some mesmerising looks at the 79th Cannes Film Festival, and they were widely discussed on social media. Well, we aren’t doing that here. Alia Bhatt attended the opening night of the festival. She was present for the premiere of the French film A Woman’s Life. During her several interviews, Alia Bhatt also discussed the current situation of female-led films and how that is different in India. The actor also spoke about her admiration for actor Fahaadh Faasil’s work, by of course mentioning Aawasham.
What Are The Indian Films Being Showcased This Year?
Many independent films from across Indian languages are going to be showcased at the 79th Cannes Film Festival. But are we talking about them enough? Here are the films you should know about! The two Indian films officially selected for Cannes this year are-
1. Shadows Of The Moonless Night: FTII student Mehar Malhotra’s film will also be screened at the prestigious film festival.
2. John Abraham’s 1986 classic Amma Ariyan will be showcased in the Cannes Classics section.
The rest of the films are going to be premiered at Cannes’ film market, also known as Marché du Film. This list includes films like Gudgudi, Balan: The Boy, and Chardikala.
Indians At Cannes This Year?
Apart from Alia Bhatt, more Indian representation is expected at the Cannes Film Festival 2026. The cast and crew associated with the above-mentioned films will be present for the screenings. All We Imagine Light’s director, Payal Kapadia, is on the Critics’ Week jury. Director Ashutosh Gowarikar was in attendance to inaugurate the Bharat Pavilion. Alia was also present at the ceremony. Other Indian filmmakers like Anurag Kashyap and Karan Johar are also attending the festival. Lokah star Kalyani Priyadarshan also made her Cannes debut as a representative for Bharat Pavilion. Alia Bhatt has bid farewell to Cannes for this year; more Indian actors like Aishwarya Rai, Aditi Rao Hydari are expected to walk the red carpet.
Also Read: Who Is Mandana Karimi, Actor Leaving India After 16 Years?
Awards At Cannes Film Festival!
While many screenings and premieres are held at the Cannes Film Festival, there are also several award ceremonies to honour the exceptional artists in cinema. Some of the highest honours at Cannes are the Palme d’Or, Un Certain Regard, La Cinef Prizes and other prizes like the FIPRESCI Prize, Queer Palm, and L’Œil d’or. The Grand Prix award is the second-highest honour at Palme d’Or. Payal Kapadia received this honour for All We Imagine Light. Let’s hope India wins more such awards in the future!
While social media focuses more on the fashion aspect of this huge event, let’s not forget that at the core, Cannes is all about the celebration of cinema. Artists from across the globe come under one roof to showcase the power of films and filmmaking. The enthusiasm around movies, and the several people managing to attend at least 4-5 films a day, is the real essence of this festival!
FAQs
When did Cannes Film Festival start?
The Cannes Film Festival started on May 12.
Why will Ahsaas Channa be at Cannes 2026?
She is making the Cannes debut for her short-film Gudgudi.