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Kantemir Balagov

Russian-born director (Closeness, Beanpole). His English-language debut Butterfly Jam opens Directors' Fortnight 2026.

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April 14, 2026

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Cannes Directors' Fortnight 2026: Balagov Opens, Dupieux Closes With Animation, Claire Denis Takes Carrosse d'Or

Directors' Fortnight 2026 frames its lineup around two French-anchored bookends — Kantemir Balagov's English-language *Butterfly Jam* opening, Quentin Dupieux's animated *Vertiginous* closing — with Claire Denis receiving the Carrosse d'Or. Full breakdown plus the commercial read on a Fortnight increasingly positioned as Cannes' commercial auteur alternative.

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