Valeska Grisebach – ALLIANCE OF WOMEN FILM JOURNALISTS

Women Winners @ Cannes 2026 – Diane Carson reports

May 27, 2026May 31, 2026 Diane Carson Camera d’Or, geena davis, Marié-Clémentine Dusabejambo, Monia Chokri, Tao Okamoto, Un Certain Regard, Valeska Grisebach, Virginie Efira

The 79th Cannes Film Festival award ceremony held May 23, 2026, began on a high note with presenter Geena Davis noting that women have truly made advances in the filmmaking world. Smiling, she pointed to the 2026 official poster, a tribute to Thelma and Louise which premiered May 1991 at Cannes. There self-assuredly sit Geena Davis/Thelma and Susan Surandon/Louise atop the front seats of their iconic 1966 Ford thunderbird convertible, the car in which they escaped, at least for a while, patriarchal power. Honoring the film’s thirty-five year anniversary, the poster celebrates the pair’s enduring friendship, their challenge to male dictates, and assertion of their power. protagonist.

Festivals Reviews

THE DREAMED ADVENTURE (Cannes 2026) – Review by Diane Carson

May 21, 2026May 24, 2026 Diane Carson Cannes 2026, Das Geträumte Abenteur, palme d'or, Prix du Jury, Syuleyman Alilov Letifov, The Dreamed Adventure, Valeska Grisebach, Yana Radeva

An exploration of a hopelessly intertwined rural community, writer/director Valeska Grisebach’s The Dreamed Adventure/Das Geträumte Abenteur explains little, yet reveals volumes. In early scenes, Saïd drives to the Bulgarian town Svilengrad to pursue a business venture, securing diesel from a dodgy local. After his 1990s car is stolen, Saïd accidentally and fortuitously encounters his old friend Veska. She manages an archeological site in Matochina, but what will more disconcertingly be excavated over the film’s almost three hours is the sordid history and current legacy of the area. Digging up the past takes care and patience, which Veska possesses in abundance.

Festivals

Women @ Cannes FF 2026 – Christina Jeurling-Birro reports

April 22, 2026April 26, 2026 Christina Jeurling Birro Cannes Film Festival 2026, Marie Kreutzer, palme d'or, Park Chan Wook, Thierry Frémaux, Valeska Grisebach

There’s always a sense of Christmas morning excitement when Cannes Film Festival chief Thierry Frémaux unveils the festival’s lineup. The 79th edition of the festival feels especially electric, blending new discoveries with an auteur-driven selection. This year’s lineup includes works by Pedro Almodóvar, Pawel Pawlikowski, Ira Sachs, Asghar Farhadi, and new films from previous Palme d’Or winners Cristian Mungiu and Hirokazu Kore-eda. The 2026 festival leans heavily on international cinema. There are no blockbusters on the slate but the program showcases a fascinating mix of genres, including musicals, sci-fi, and horror. Out of the 22 films announced so far in competition, five are directed by women. 24% of the lineup, a slight dip from last year. However, in the Un Certain Regard section, more than half (8 out of 11 films) are directed by women.