John Travolta’s directorial debut One-way night coachwill have its world premiere at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival as part of the Cannes premiere lineup, organizers revealed Thursday. The Apple Original Films film is based on the 1997 book written and illustrated by Travolta, and is inspired by the star’s childhood memories and lifelong passion for flying.
The world’s largest film festival did not immediately clarify the premiere date.
“Jeff, a young airplane enthusiast, and his mother embark on a one-way cross-country flight to Hollywood, turning a simple plane ride into the trip of a lifetime,” according to a plot description shared by the festival. “Between airline meals, glamorous flight attendants, unexpected layovers, larger-than-life passengers, and a thrilling glimpse of first class, the journey unfolds in magical and unexpected moments, charting the course for the boy’s future.”
The film stars newcomer Clark Shotwell as Jeff, Kelly Eveston-Quinette as his mother, as well as Travolta’s daughter Ella Blue Travolta and Olga Hoffman as flight attendants.
The film is produced by Travolta’s JTP Films and Kids at Play, with producers including Travolta for JTP and Jason Berger and Amy Laslett for Kids at Play. The world premiere will take place at Cannes at the Théâtre Debussy with Travolta in attendance before the film is released globally on Apple TV on May 29.
“When his actress mother decides to move to Hollywood, Jeff, an eight-year-old boy who dreams of flying in a plane, begins his journey with connecting flights, airline food, layovers, and time spent in first class,” reads the synopsis of the book, which the star wrote for his son.
Travolta described planes and flying as a long-standing passion. The Cannes Film Festival said he used surveillance planes taking off from LaGuardia Airport near his home and began flying at the age of 15 before obtaining his first pilot’s license at the age of 22.
The star has brought three films to Cannes over the years: Pulp Fiction (1994) and It’s very beautiful (1997) in the competition program, and Primary colours (1998) in an out-of-competition slot.
“A Palme d’Or winner, two-time Academy Award nominee and three-time Golden Globe and Emmy Award winner, John Travolta has established himself as an iconic figure in popular culture, thanks to iconic classics like Saturday night fever (1977), fat (1978), blow out (1981) and Hairspray “Alongside an eclectic filmography of more than 70 films spanning half a century, the 72-year-old actor has a long-standing passion: flying,” the Cannes Film Festival said on Thursday.
The festival noted that the star is certified to fly Boeing 707, 737, 747, and Bombardier Global Express aircraft, and was the first private pilot to fly an Airbus A380. “With over 9,000 flight hours under his belt, the actor has also owned several aircraft for many years, and even flew planes in two films: Look who’s talking (1989) and Broken arrow (1996),” the film festival highlighted N
The 79th Cannes Film Festival will open with a screening of a film by Pierre Salvadori from the 1920s No electric venus. The French director’s film will officially premiere at the Grand Théâtre Lumière in Cannes on May 12, following an opening reception hosted by actress Eye Haidara.
