Nearly two decades after 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, Cristian Mungiu has claimed his second Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival with Fjord. Shown in official competition at the 79th edition, the drama led by Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve will land in French theatres on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.
The film follows the Gheorghiu, a devout Romanian-Norwegian couple who settle with their children in a village at the end of a fjord. They quickly grow close to their neighbors, the Halbergs, while the children from both families form bonds of their own despite very different upbringings. That balance is upended when bruises are discovered on Elia, the eldest Gheorghiu daughter.
The suspicion surrounding the origin of these injuries is increasingly spilling beyond the family circle. The traditional upbringing administered by the Gheorghiu family to their children is being challenged by the school and the wider community, confronting divergent notions of family, faith, and parental authority. The story thus places cultural and moral differences at the center of a situation where everyone must decide where the line lies between personal beliefs and protecting the child.
Fjord marks a new chapter in the long story of Cristian Mungiu at Cannes. The Romanian director had won his first Palme d'Or in 2007 with 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days. Beyond the Hills went on to earn him the Screenplay Award in 2012, while Cosmina Stratan and Cristina Flutur shared the Best Actress prize. In 2016, Graduation took home the Best Director prize.
Initially announced among the films of the Cannes Film Festival 2026 competition, Fjord has finally earned the filmmaker a second Palme d'Or. The film also picked up the Ecumenical Jury Prize.
In front of the camera, Sebastian Stan delivers the lead as Mihai Gheorghiu, opposite Renate Reinsve, who portrays Lisbet Gheorghiu. Alin Panc, Lisa Loven Kongsli and Christian Rubeck also appear in the cast. A European co-production framed by Norwegian landscapes and society, Fjord is set to arrive in French cinemas from August 19, 2026.
Looking for more films to discover? Check out the August 2026 movie releases, the films to watch right now, and our pick of dramas not to be missed at the cinema.
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