The Cannes Film Festival Market is preparing for its 2026 edition, which will take place from May 12 to 20, with innovations and superlatives designed to “reaffirm” the film market’s position as “the premier place where creativity, technology and the film industry converge,” organizers said Thursday. Among this year’s offerings are the market’s first-ever Creator Economy Summit and what Marché describes as “the largest VP platform ever in the film market.”
This year the competition, the immersive marketplace, and, for its second edition, the AI Talent Summit return. In addition, the market is promoting a new online experience from Cinando.
“We support innovation that serves artistic creativity and the growth of the industry as a whole,” said Guillaume Esmeul, Executive Director of the Marché du Film. “At Marché, we are committed to supporting and driving innovation, from technological advances that have continually reshaped how films are conceived, produced and distributed, to a broader mindset that reimagines business models, partnerships and relationships.”
Here’s a look at what the Marché du Film will be showing at Cannes this year.
Village Innovation returns with the XL virtual production pilot
“After a successful debut last year, Village Innovation returns alongside Village International’s Pantiero, once again serving as the main hub for Cannes Next, the Marché du Film’s innovation-focused programme,” the organizers stressed. They pledged that hands-on virtual production demonstrations would be included in the largest virtual production stage ever introduced to the film market.
Artificial Intelligence Talent Summit Year 2
The AI Talent Summit returns with what the market is calling an “enhanced version”, which this time will be held over two morning sessions, Friday, May 15 and Saturday, May 16. It is an event “aimed only at senior executives from the film and technology sectors” and promises to bring together leading technology companies and creative talent “to explore the latest real-world applications of AI in creative and business processes. This year’s edition will focus on three main themes: integrating AI into production workflows, ethics and responsible use of AI and education.”
Immersive market expansion
The immersive show is expanding to the Carlton Hotel and introducing a new experiential space this year. Additionally, Cannes’ immersive competition takes a new turn this year, offering “the first competition of its kind at a major international festival, specifically designed for shared audience experiences, in a newly reconfigured space capable of hosting 80 to 225 participants simultaneously,” as described by organizers. “The marketplace, along with the 11-day immersive competition, aims to be the most efficient platform for immersive, location-based distribution, featuring high-impact pitch sessions, curated networking events, and tangible business opportunities.”
Launching the Creative Economy Summit
This new installment of the Marché du Film will “explore opportunities at the intersection of traditional cinema and the ‘creative economy’,” according to organizers. “As digital content creators expand into feature-length storytelling and film production, this summit will provide a comprehensive look at how the two worlds connect — from adapting digital intellectual property into cinematic projects and scouting emerging talent, to engaging audiences that drive communities to theaters and exploring innovative marketing strategies.”
Updated electronic platform
The industry database and networking platform Cinando, created by Marché du Film, was relaunched earlier this year with new tools and enhanced features. “The Marché du Film Online platform, created in 2020 for remote participants, will now fully migrate to the rebuilt Cinando system,” organizers said. “Now operating as Marché du Film by Cinando, the cutting-edge platform will combine online screenings, live videos, conference videos and communication tools within one unified ‘market environment’.”
