Directors of ‘The Girl With the Needle’ and ‘The Ties That Bind Us’ to Showcase New Films to Investors at Cannes Market 2026

The Cannes Investors Circle, part of the Marché du Film, has announced its fourth edition, set to feature a selection of eight projects from prominent filmmakers. This initiative aims to connect private investors with high-quality film projects during the 79th edition of the Cannes Film Festival, scheduled for next month. Notable directors, including those behind The Girl With the Needle and The Ties That Bind Us, will present their latest works to a select group of VIP investors.

Spotlight on New Projects

Organizers revealed that the 2026 edition will highlight eight never-before-seen feature projects. These will be showcased in a private, invitation-only setting, allowing leading producers and visionary directors to engage directly with potential investors. The curated lineup reflects the diversity of contemporary international cinema, emphasizing European talent and distinctive directorial voices. The projects span a wide range of cinematic styles and budgets, from €1.0 million ($1.2 million) to over €12 million ($13.9 million).

While the specific titles or working titles of the projects have not yet been disclosed, the Cannes Investors Circle 2026 is scheduled to take place on May 16 and 17 at the Plage des Palmes, the official beachside venue of the Marché du Film.

Successful Outcomes from Previous Editions

Guillaume Esmiol, executive director of the Marché du Film, noted that the previous edition of the Investors Circle led to tangible investment results. Projects such as Gentle Monster by Marie Kreutzer and Poeta Chileno by Sebastián Lelio successfully secured funding through the program. Esmiol emphasized that participating filmmakers have also gained recognition at prestigious festivals. For the upcoming edition, the selection process will be refined to ensure a high-quality array of projects.

Plans are also in place to expand the initiative beyond Cannes, with year-round activities, including workshops like the recent one held in Trieste during the When East Meets West event.

Diverse Selection of Filmmakers

Alexandra Zakharchenko, head of the Investors Circle program, stated that this year’s selection aims to encompass projects at various stages of development and financing. The focus is on a wide range of budgets, genres, and narrative styles. Particular emphasis has been placed on projects that are prepared to engage with private investment, showcasing strong market potential and creative positioning, including an increasing presence of elevated genre-driven works.

The selection process for 2026 was overseen by Zakharchenko in collaboration with a committee of industry professionals, including Céline Dornier (content executive, IPR.VC), Jean des Forêts (founder & CEO, Petit Film), Alice Laffillé (VP of international sales, FilmNation Entertainment), and Anthony Muir (senior executive for international co-productions, Film i Väst).

Featured Directors at the 2026 Cannes Investors Circle

The following directors will be featured at the 2026 Cannes Investors Circle:

• Noé Debré (France): Known for his work on Dheepan, which won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, Debré made his directorial debut in 2024 with A Nice Jewish Boy.
• Ismaël El Iraki (Morocco/France): An alumnus of La Fémis, El Iraki’s debut feature Zanka Contact premiered in Orizzonti at the Venice Film Festival, where actress Khansa Batma won best actress.
• Felipe Gálvez (Chile): Gálvez’s debut feature The Settlers (Los Colonos) premiered in Un Certain Regard at Cannes, earning the FIPRESCI Prize. His short film Rapaz was also selected for the Critics’ Week at Cannes.
• Atsuko Hirayanagi (Japan/USA): An award-winning screenwriter and director based in San Francisco, Hirayanagi’s short film Oh Lucy! screened at major festivals, winning over 35 awards. Her debut feature of the same name premiered at Critics’ Week in Cannes.
• Juho Kuosmanen (Finland): A Helsinki-based filmmaker, Kuosmanen’s works have received accolades at Cannes, including The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki (Un Certain Regard) and Compartment No. 6, which won the Grand Prix in Competition.
• Emanuel Pârvu (Romania): Pârvu is a director, screenwriter, and actor whose debut feature Meda won best director at Sarajevo. His latest film, Three Kilometres to the End of the World, premiered in competition at Cannes, winning the Queer Palm.
• Carine Tardieu (France): Tardieu is known for her nuanced portrayals of intimacy and contemporary family structures. Her films include Ôtez-moi d’un doute (Directors’ Fortnight, Cannes 2017) and The Ties That Bind Us (L’Attachement) (Venice 2024), which won the César for best film and best adaptation.
• Magnus von Horn (Sweden/Poland): A graduate of the Łódź Film School, von Horn’s debut The Here After premiered at Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes. His film Sweat (2020) was part of the official selection, and The Girl with the Needle (2024) also premiered in competition, earning significant international recognition.

As reported by www.hollywoodreporter.com.

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Published on 2026-04-07 17:00:00 • By FAME Delivered News Desk