La Cinef 2026 Winners Announced: Emerging Filmmakers Take Center Stage at Cannes

The future of cinema was celebrated once again at the Festival de Cannes, as the Jury of the 29th La Cinef Selection unveiled its 2026 winners during a ceremony held at the Buñuel Theatre, followed by screenings of the awarded films.

Dedicated to discovering the next generation of filmmakers, La Cinef showcased 19 student films selected from an impressive 2,747 submissions representing 662 film schools worldwide — reaffirming Cannes’ commitment to nurturing bold new cinematic voices from every corner of the globe.

This year’s Jury was chaired by Spanish filmmaker Carla Simón and included Iranian director Ali Asgari, French actor Salim Kechiouche, South Korean actress Ji-Min Park, and Swedish-Polish director Magnus von Horn.

Together, the jury honored a group of films distinguished by originality, emotional depth, and a fearless approach to storytelling.

First Prize

Laser-Gato (Laser-Cat)

Directed by Lucas Acher

NYU – United States

The top prize went to Brazilian-born filmmaker Lucas Acher for Laser-Gato, an inventive and visually dynamic film that blended absurdity, tenderness, and social commentary. The victory comes with a €15,000 grant and positions Acher as a major emerging talent to watch.

Second Prize

Silent Voices

Directed by Nadine Misong Jin

Columbia University – United States

Filmmaker Nadine Misong Jin received the second prize for her emotionally restrained and formally elegant meditation on isolation and memory. The award includes an €11,000 grant.

Joint Third Prize

Aldrig Nok (Never Enough)

Directed by Julius Lagoutte Larsen

La Fémis – France

and

Growing Stones, Flying Papers

Directed by Roozbeh Gezerseh & Soraya Shamsi

Filmuniversität Babelsberg Konrad Wolf – Germany

The Jury awarded a shared third prize to two films that approached contemporary anxieties through vastly different cinematic languages. Julius Lagoutte Larsen’s Never Enough offered an intimate portrait of emotional fragmentation, while Roozbeh Gezerseh and Soraya Shamsi crafted a visually poetic reflection on displacement and transformation.

The filmmakers will share the €7,500 third prize grant.

A Glimpse Into Cinema’s Future

For nearly three decades, La Cinef has served as one of Cannes’ most important discovery platforms, introducing audiences to young filmmakers who often go on to shape the future of international cinema. This year’s winning films once again demonstrated the vitality, diversity, and emotional intelligence of a new generation eager to redefine cinematic language.

From experimental storytelling to deeply personal narratives, the 2026 La Cinef selection reflected a world in motion — and the young artists determined to capture it.