Art is often political at Cannes but the Festival remains neutral, says its delegate general

In these troubled times, the message is strong and clear: Art is often political. However, the Cannes Film Festival, which unveiled its selection on Thursday, April 9, 2026, and whose 79th edition is taking place from May 12 to 23, is not meant to take sides, declared its delegate general, Thierry Frémaux.

An apolitical event?

In February 2026, the Berlinale was embroiled in controversy after statements from the president of its jury, Wim Wenders, who said that cinema should “stay out of politics.” When asked about this, Thierry Frémaux stated that Cannes is primarily “a reflection of the artists’ commitment.”

“It is often said that the Cannes Film Festival is political when the films and authors are political,” he explained, noting that Art is very often political. However, he emphasized that the institution must remain neutral: “The Festival does not take a political position,” he declared, “and is not there to take sides.”

The precedent Zelensky

Thierry Frémaux justified giving a platform to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during the 2022 Cannes edition, shortly after the start of the Russian invasion, stating, “the war had just been declared […] and it seemed to us that he, a former actor, deserved the Festival’s honors to tell the tragedy his country was experiencing and is still experiencing.”

Thierry Frémaux also downplayed the significance of the absence of big Hollywood studio films in this year’s Cannes selection, stating, “Cannes is a photographic snapshot in a moment of spring,” and teasing, “next year, you’ll say to me, ‘This year, there are many studio films.'”

Currently, 21 films have been selected to compete for the Palme d’Or and succeed “A Separation” by Iranian Jafar Panahi.