What began as an ambitious digital experiment during the Cannes Film Festival has rapidly evolved into one of the most closely watched alternative platforms for independent cinema. Now entering its third edition, Cannes International Film Week returns with a carefully curated lineup of more than 130 films from across the globe, streaming worldwide throughout the Cannes season via Whush.com. Launched in 2024 as a response to the growing disconnect between accessibility and pre

While the spotlight of the Festival de Cannes often falls on the legendary auteurs competing for the Palme d’Or, some of the festival’s most exciting discoveries emerge from its short film programs. This year, Cannes once again positions itself as a global observatory for emerging cinema with the unveiling of the 2026 Short Films Competition and La Cinef selections — two sections dedicated to the future voices of filmmaking. Together, the programs showcase filmmakers from acr

The Festival de Cannes has officially unveiled its highly anticipated lineup, confirming once again why the Croisette remains the beating heart of world cinema. The 79th edition, running from May 12 to May 23, promises a thrilling collision of established masters, daring newcomers, political provocateurs, and visionary auteurs from every corner of the globe. From Pedro Almodóvar and Asghar Farhadi to Ryusuke Hamaguchi and Cristian Mungiu, this year’s Official Selection reflec

More than three decades after dancing his way into Cannes history with Pulp Fiction, John Travolta is returning to the Croisette — this time not as an actor, but as a filmmaker. The Hollywood icon will present his first feature as director, Propeller One-Way Night Coach, in the prestigious Cannes Premiere section of the Festival de Cannes. The film, produced by Apple Original Films, will have its world premiere at the Théâtre Debussy in the presence of Travolta himself, marki

The Festival de Cannes will begin this year with romance, chaos, elegance, and laughter. Pierre Salvadori’s new feature La Vénus électrique has been selected as the opening film of the 79th Festival de Cannes and will premiere on May 12 at the Grand Théâtre Lumière, immediately following the opening ceremony hosted by Eye Haïdara. In a fitting tribute to the communal spirit of cinema, the film will simultaneously screen in theaters throughout France, transforming the festival

The Festival de Cannes has found its new voice for the Croisette. French actress Eye Haïdara has been announced as the Mistress of Ceremonies for the 79th edition of the Festival de Cannes, succeeding Laurent Lafitte for the prestigious role that will unfold between May 12 and May 23, 2026. Revealed jointly by the Festival’s official media partners France Télévisions and Brut, the announcement signals a continuation of Cannes’ embrace of performers who embody both artistic in

As the 79th edition of the Festival de Cannes approaches, the announcement of Park Chan-wook as President of the Jury feels less like a surprise than a historical inevitability. Few filmmakers of the 21st century have reshaped the language of cinema with such audacity, precision, and emotional violence. With twelve extraordinary feature films, Park has become not only one of the defining auteurs of contemporary cinema, but also one of its most fearless moral anatomists. On Ma

The 2026 edition of the Ghent Viewpoint Documentary Film Festival came to an end after a week of screening documentary film gems coming from all around the world. Since Studio Skoop is temporarily closed, the festival took place at Ghent's most cosy independent cinema Velvet Room, where guests could also enjoy a free drink and interact with the filmmakers: Victoire Boninn, Floriane Hernalsteens, Chloé Wasp, Vincent Terlinchamp, Laura De Baudringhien and Daphne van den Blink.

Toronto Film Week returned this week with a diverse lineup of indie films. Festival curator, Kris De Meester, expressed great satisfaction with the 2026 edition: "Looking back on the 2026 edition of Toronto Film Week, what stays with me most is the sheer richness and diversity of voices that came together—films that challenged, provoked, and, at times, quietly reshaped the way we see the world. One of the most memorable surprises was the audience’s embrace of The Insides of O

For nearly a century, the isolated community of Short Creek—straddling the border of Utah and Arizona—has existed under the shadow of prophecy, polygamy, and control. In Prophet Town , filmmaker Dan Howlett turns his lens toward what he describes as the “full and final chapter” of the story surrounding Warren Jeffs , the disgraced leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS), whose reign left thousands psychologically scarred. But rather th

In Hu Li Jing: The Fox Spirit , filmmaker and visual artist Alena Saveleva enters the realm of myth, animism, and transformation. Set in a distant, timeless forest, the film follows Hu Li Jing, a fox spirit who, weary of her own immortality, undertakes a ritual of abstinence—refusing to hunt for men’s hearts for one thousand days—in an attempt to rediscover her femininity and her place between worlds. But when she steps peacefully into the human world, she is met not with un

There are not many films where blood is not a metaphor but a material. Insania Mundi , the 13-minute documentary short by UK filmmaker Brendan Void, is not comfortable viewing, nor is it meant to be. The film is an observation of two Berlin-based performance artists whose work operates on the edge of endurance, ritual, and self-inflicted transformation. What emerges is not a traditional documentary, but a document of artistic extremity. Void collaborates not only as a filmmak

Doc.London is an annual documentary film festival that features work from around the world by up and coming artists, showcasing innovative independent cinema that invites viewers to learn and ponder. Thursday marked the closing night of the in-person part of the 2026 edition, which took place at BFI Stephen Street. The Streaming Selection, the festival's online program, remains available for streaming until 23 April. The official selection included 24 documentary films hail

Produced by Kuo Li and directed by Guoju, A Winter Mirage explores individual lives against the backdrop of China’s economic transformation through a documentary-inflected visual language. Set in Yiwu—one of the world’s most significant hubs for small commodity trade—the film follows a single mother over the course of a winter solstice day, capturing the emotional and existential conditions of individuals navigating social change. Anchored by the father’s death anniversary, t

Alejandro Di Meglio’s 20:15 Mexico DF is a film that understands something essential about cinema: that the most meaningful moments are often the quietest ones. Set against the vibrant yet strangely intimate backdrop of Mexico City, the film brings two women together for what seems, at first, like a simple encounter. What unfolds, however, is something far more delicate—a meditation on memory, love, and the invisible weight of time. The acting is remarkably natural, carried

Ghent, Belgium — The 2026 edition of the Ghent International Short Film Festival concluded on March 22 at the Velvet Room after a week-long celebration of independent and daring short cinema. From March 16 to 22, the festival presented a curated selection of 46 short films spanning narrative, documentary, animation, experimental and underground cinema. The festival welcomed a number of special guests, including Maximilian Nita, Hiroyuki Nishiyama, Klara Schmickler, Catarina C

Dreams.com , launched at SXSW and live today , aspires to capture a million voices across the United States to share what the American Dream means to people today - and what they hope it will mean for future generations. Unveiled by TV production company, McCourt Entertainment, in partnership with South Florida PBS, Austin PBS, WVIA (the PBS and NPR affiliate serving over 22 counties in northeastern and central Pennsylvania), and American Public Television (APT), America-Dre

In an era when documentary storytelling often gravitates toward clear arcs of downfall and redemption, Glen Fulthorpe’s No Two Ways deliberately chooses a more patient and reflective path. The film follows Biggy, a British-Iraqi man attempting to rebuild his life while confronting the lingering effects of racial profiling, past mistakes, and the responsibilities of faith and fatherhood. Rather than constructing a dramatic narrative of transformation, the film lingers in the

In the noisy basements and small venues of Portland’s underground music scene, a band called Ogre has built a reputation for turning every show into something closer to a communal ritual than a concert. When the band performs, audiences aren’t just spectators—they become part of the experience. Filmmaker Justin Boswick wanted to capture that energy on film. His short documentary The Ogre follows the three-member band—Ace, Grace, and Nils—as they prepare for their biggest s

The first edition of the Amsterdam International Short Film Festival concluded last night, February 19 , with a sold-out screening at Lab111 , marking a powerful and confident debut for a festival entirely dedicated to the art, urgency, and expertise of short filmmaking. Held in the heart of Amsterdam , the night was met with an engaged and enthusiastic audience, thoughtful post-screening discussions, and a palpable sense that something essential had begun. The full house co

The first edition of the New York Monsters Film Festival erupted onto the New York underground film scene on February 14th at Film Noir Cinema , delivering a brutally memorable Valentine’s night dedicated to disturbing, transgressive, and fearless cinema. Hosted in the heart of Greenpoint , the inaugural edition was an overwhelming success , featuring a razor-sharp international lineup, an engaged and enthusiastic audience, electric post-screening reactions, and striking ph