The Official Competition of the 2026 Cannes Film Festival welcomes two major French productions that embody the vitality, diversity and creative ambition of contemporary cinema: THE UNKNOWN, directed Arthur Harari and ANOTHER DAY, directed by Jeanne Herry. Both films have been selected to compete for the Palme d’Or, confirming the artistic strength of their filmmakers and positioning them among the most anticipated titles of the festival.
THE UNKNOWN marks Arthur Harari’s return to Cannes following the international acclaim of Anatomy of a Fall, for which he co-wrote the screenplay with Justine Triet. The script earned some of the industry’s highest honours in 2024, including the Academy Award, BAFTA, Golden Globe and César for Best Original Screenplay. Adapted from Le Cas David Zimmerman, the acclaimed graphic novel by his brother Lucas Harari, THE UNKNOWN brings to the screen a gripping story of identity and disappearance, further showcasing the filmmaker’s singular narrative voice and cinematic ambition.
THE WRAP
‘The Unknown’ Review: This Disquieting Body Swap Horror Will Rattle You
It thrives on its terror by committing so fully to its high-concept thrills. You may feel tempted to pinch your skin, to make sure you’re still in the right body.
”What Harari does best here is to turn the relationship between men and women into a consummate suspense: desire draws out identity, intimacy illuminates self-knowledge
Letterboxd - Review by Detectivezinc
Competing for the Palme d’Or at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, ANOTHER DAY further cements Jeanne Herry’s place among the most distinctive filmmakers of her generation. Following the success of In Safe Hands and All Your Faces, the director returns with a powerful and intimate portrait of resilience, led by Adèle Exarchopoulos. Through the story of a young actress navigating addiction and recovery, Herry once again demonstrates her exceptional ability to capture the complexity of human relationships with empathy and precision.
SCREEN DAILY
Adèle Exarchopoulos is the beating heart of Jeanne Herry’s naturalistic study of alcoholism
Addressing potentially harrowing material with grace and propulsive pacing, the film its lead’s art-house profile will surely bring Another Day and its writer-director plentiful attention internationally.
