In wavesPhuong Mai Nguyen’s animated adaptation of AJ Dungo’s graphic novel, will open the 65th edition of Cannes Critics’ Week, the sidebar that runs alongside the main Cannes festival from May 13-21. It was one of 11 films that made up this year’s selection, announced Monday. (The full Critics’ Week lineup is below.)
Will Sharp and Stephanie Hsu head the voice cast for the English version of the film In waves. Critics’ Week plans to show both that and the French version, which features voice work from Lina Khoudry, Rio Vega, Paul Kercher, and Piran Ba.
Inspired by Dongo’s real-life love story, In waves Set in California, the film follows a skater and a surfer, friends from school who later become lovers and find their relationship tested by illness.
The film is produced by French collective Silex Films in collaboration with Charades and Anonymous Content, which also features Asghar Farhadi’s filmography. Parallel stories At Cannes, it is the first animated film to open Critics’ Week. Nguyen was shortlisted for an Academy Award for her short film my house.
In waves It is one of seven features selected for the Cannes Critics’ Week competition, which also includes… a prayerThe new film by Kosovar director Blerta Pascholi, who won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance for her new film. cell Set in 2021. The film looks at the lasting impact of the 1990s Kosovo War through the story of Dua, a 13-year-old girl whose family life continues to be shaped by the conflict.
Chinese director Zhou Jing An unknown girlanother entry in the competition, explores the implications of China’s decades-long one-child policy, which has led to thousands of young girls being abandoned across the country. The drama revolves around a girl who grew up with three different families during her childhood and adolescence.
Yemeni-Scottish director Sarah Ishaq appears at Critics’ Week The stationa drama centered around a women-only gas station in a gender-segregated, war-torn village in Yemen. The only male tolerated at the station, which has become a special meeting place for village women, is Layal’s 12-year-old brother, whom she is determined to keep out of the conflict.
Mexican director Bruno Santamaria Razo is also participating in the competition 6 months at Edificio Rosa Con Azula family drama set in the 1990s set against the AIDS crisis and the feature film debut of French director Marine Atlan. La Gradiva; and FIFAFrom Spanish actress turned director Aina Clotet.
Documentary film by French-Irish director Alexandre Murphy Tin Castle ‘Following a traveling Irish family, following Murphy until 2025’ Goodbye, sistersalso in competition.
The seven competing films are in competition Louis Roederer Foundation Rising Star Award and Le Grand Prix AMI Paris.
Out-of-competition specials include performances by French directors Julien Gaspard Olivieri Stonewall And Pierre Le Gall Meat and fuel.
The film Closing Night is by French director Felix de Givry Goodbye cruel mondChampionship Anatomy of a fall Breakthrough Milo Machado Graner As a teenager, after announcing to his family and friends that he was going to commit suicide, he failed in his attempt.
Check out the full lineup for Cannes Critics’ Week 2026 below.
opening film
In waves; Director: Phuong My Nguyen
a race
The station (station); Director: Belerta Pacholi
La Gradiva; Director: Marin Atlan
A Unknown girl (La deuxième fille); Director: Zhou Jing
There are memes and the new ones are red; Director: Bruno Santamaria Razo
Tin Castle (Irish Travellers); Director: Alexander Murphy
FIFA; Director: Aina Clotet
Special offers
Meat and fuel (du viol dans les artères); Director: Pierre Le Gall
Stonewall (no frappe); Director: Julien Gaspar Oliveri
closing film
Goodbye cruel world; Director: Felix de Jeffrey
