Cannes 2026: The Critics’ Week Winners

The Festival de Cannes 2026 is gradually drawing to a close. While the palmarès of the official selection and of Un Certain Regard will be unveiled on May 23, the Semaine de la Critique, the festival’s parallel section led by Ava Cahen, was announced this Wednesday, May 20.

The 65th Critics' Week was presided over by Indian filmmaker Payal Kapadia, surrounded by a jury that included Canadian actor Théodore Pellerin, French singer-songwriter Oklou, Ghanaian-British producer Ama Ampadu, and journalist and director of the Bangkok World Film Festival, Donsaron Kovitvanitcha.

Together, they handed out six prizes after a week of intense screenings that cinephiles greatly appreciated: the Grand Prix of Critics' Week for best feature, the Prix Fondation Louis Roederer de la Révélation for the breakthrough actor, the Prix Fondation Gan, the Prix SACD, the Prix Canal+ for the short film, and the Prix Découverte Leitz Ciné for best short.

• To be read
• Cannes Film Festival 2026: The Latest News and Updates on the 79th Edition
• Cannes Film Festival 2026: 22 films in competition for the Palme d'Or

The Critics' Week 2026 awards: 

• Grand Prix: La Gradiva by Marine Atlan

• Louis Roederer Foundation Revelation Award: Aina Clotet for her role in Viva

• Gan Foundation Prize for Broadcasting : The Second Daughter by Zou Jing

• SACD Prize: Blerta Basholli and Nicole Borgeat for Dua

• Canal+ Short Film Award: “Vaterland” or A Boy Named Yanto by Berthold Wahjudi

• Leitz Cine Discovery Prize for Short Film : Skinny Bottines by Romain F. Dubois