The Festival de Cannes has announced the six filmmakers selected for the 50th edition of La Résidence du Festival de Cannes: Alica Bednáriková (Slovakia), Federico Luis (Argentina), Maksym Nakonechnyi (Ukraine), Laís Santos Araújo (Brazil), Baran Sarmad (Iran), and Dian Weys (South Africa).
From October 1, 2025, through February 15, 2026, these rising talents will live and work in Paris, developing their first or second feature films with mentorship and support from the Festival.
A Global Initiative Nurturing New Voices
Established in 2000, La Résidence offers a creative sanctuary for filmmakers to write, refine, and expand their projects. Over its 25 years, the program has hosted more than 250 directors, many of whom have gone on to present acclaimed films at major festivals.
This landmark 50th session continues the Festival’s mission to amplify diverse perspectives and foster new cinematic languages across continents.
Meet the 2025–2026 Residents
Maksym Nakonechnyi — Ukraine
The Butterfly Vision director returns to Cannes after his 2022 Un Certain Regard selection. Amid wartime challenges in Ukraine, Nakonechnyi says the residency offers “a rare opportunity to focus on creation in safety” as he finalizes his next feature script.
Baran Sarmad — Iran
Known for blending realism and fantasy, Sarmad gained recognition with Spotted Yellow (Locarno 2019) and for producing Orthodontics, a 2020 Palme d’Or-nominated short. She describes La Résidence as “a creative sanctuary” to rewrite and refine her debut feature Mellow Pink.
Laís Santos Araújo — Brazil
The filmmaker behind Infantaria—winner of the Berlinale Generation 14plus Special Prize—will use the residency to deepen her storytelling around womanhood and violence. Her debut feature Marina is currently in post-production.
Federico Luis — Argentina
After winning the 2024 Semaine de la Critique Grand Prix for Simón de la Montaña, Luis joins the program to develop The Dog Trainer. “There will be huge space to dream,” he says of his Paris writing retreat.
Alica Bednáriková — Slovakia
An alumna of La Cinef and Les Arcs Talent Village, Bednáriková is expanding her short Attention Whores into a feature. Her film Liquid Bread was a semi-finalist for the Student Academy Awards and screened in Cannes 2021.
Dian Weys — South Africa
With award-winning shorts including Bergie and Vultures, Weys embarks on his first feature during the residency. “To live in Paris, surrounded by film lovers, is nothing short of a dream,” he shares.
Continuing the Legacy
As La Résidence celebrates its 50th edition, these six filmmakers represent the program’s enduring impact: nurturing bold, boundary-pushing storytelling that reflects a global cinematic future.
The 79th Festival de Cannes will take place May 12–23, 2026.
For more information, visit festival-cannes.com
