The official poster for the 76th Cannes Film Festival was unveiled on the festival’s website, welcoming cinema lovers from North America and around the world to a new season of premieres and conversations. The image at the center features actress Catherine Deneuve on the set of Alain Cavalier’s 1968 film Surrender, a frame that evokes a decisive moment in film history and primes audiences for the kind of timeless, fearless storytelling the festival has long celebrated.
According to the festival’s site, Deneuve has spent more than six decades actively shaping the cinema landscape through performances, auditions, and collaborations. Her enduring presence is described as a vivid embodiment of the festival’s mission to preserve and showcase the richness of cinema. The frame with Deneuve is interpreted as a visual symbol of longevity and audacity, reminding viewers that great performances—no matter how old the film—continue to resonate with new audiences.
The festival’s main competition unfolded with 19 films, highlighting a slate that included Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City and Wim Wenders’s Perfect Days. In a notable programming move, Wenders balanced attention by presenting two features simultaneously: a documentary about the German artist Anselm Kiefer and another major entry, signaling the program’s commitment to both singular visionaries and broader artistic portraits. In addition to the main lineup, the non-competition program offered a mix of high-profile premieres and acclaimed series, including Martin Scorsese’s Flower Moon Killers and Sam Levinson’s Idol, among others, providing a broad spectrum for critics and fans to engage with during the festival pulse.
The festival has a tradition of bold opening acts and star-driven storytelling. In a nod to its history, Jeanne Dubarry—a character brought to life by Johnny Depp—was cast to open the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, underscoring the event’s draw for legendary talents and contemporary provocateurs alike. The governance of the event rests with a jury presided over by a distinguished director, while the main competition invites a cross-section of filmmakers who push the boundaries of craft and narrative form. The festival calendar typically spans several days of red-carpet moments, screenings, press conferences, and cross-continental conversations, drawing visitors and audiences from North America and beyond. The festival is scheduled to run from late May into early summer, offering a vibrant moment for discovery, dialogue, and the celebration of cinema as a shared cultural experience across diverse communities and markets.