Ava Cahen

Cannes Critics' Week 2026: First Animation Opener, Record 1,050 Submissions, and a Chinese-Director Breakout

The 65th Cannes Critics' Week opens with an animated feature for the first time in its history — Phuong Mai Nguyen's *In Waves* — selected from a record 1,050 submissions. Full breakdown of the seven-title competition and what it says about emerging-director financing in 2026.