Cannes Film Festival - Critics' Week (Semaine de la Critique)

Overview

Critics' Week (Semaine de la Critique) is the oldest parallel section of the Cannes Film Festival, founded in 1962 by the French Union of Film Critics (Syndicat Francais de la Critique de Cinema). The 65th edition runs May 13 to 21, 2026, alongside the main Cannes festival. Critics' Week is dedicated exclusively to first and second feature films and short films from emerging directors, making it one of the most selective discovery platforms in the world.

The section selects approximately seven feature films and a handful of short films each year. A Critics' Week selection signals recognition from critics who are specifically seeking the most exceptional debut talent globally. Directors whose careers began with a Critics' Week selection include Abbas Kiarostami, Nanni Moretti, and many others who have become major figures in world cinema.

The 64th edition (May 2025) awarded the AMI Paris Grand Prize to A Useful Ghost (dir. Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke, Thailand/France/Singapore/Germany). The jury was chaired by Spanish filmmaker Rodrigo Sorogoyen. Artistic director Ava Cahen leads the section alongside feature and short film selection committees made up of critics and journalists from the French Union of Film Critics.

Submission Details

Submissions are made through the Semaine de la Critique website. The submission portal opens in late November each year.

Feature film submissions (2026 edition):

• Submission window: November 24, 2025 to March 13, 2026 (midnight Paris time)
• Registration fee: 150 EUR (excluding VAT; 20% VAT applies for EU-based companies without an intra-community VAT number, French companies, and private individuals)
• Payment by debit card only (Visa, Mastercard, or any debit card; American Express not accepted)
• Fees are non-refundable

Short film submissions (2026 edition):

• Submission window: November 24, 2025 to March 13, 2026 (midnight Paris time)
• Registration fee: 35 EUR (excluding VAT; same VAT rules apply)
• Short films must be uploaded during the submission process (no external links accepted)
• Maximum duration: 59 minutes

Feature film eligibility:

• Must be the director's first or second feature film
• First feature: a film over 59 minutes from a director who has never directed a full-length film before (over 59 minutes) that has been theatrically released, released on a platform, or selected in an international festival
• Second feature: a film over 59 minutes from a director who has previously only directed one full-length film
• Must have been completed within the 12 months prior to the festival (between May 2025 and Cannes 2026)
• For foreign films: must not have participated in any festival outside its country of origin (whether in or out of competition) or film event (excluding film markets)
• For French films: must not have participated in any festival or film event anywhere in the world, including France (excluding film markets)
• Must not have been shown on the internet, broadcast on TV, or commercially released, including in its country of origin

Short film eligibility:

• Must have been completed within the 12 months prior to the festival
• For foreign shorts: must not have participated in any festival outside its country of origin
• For French shorts: must not have participated in any festival anywhere in the world, including France
• Must not have been shown on the internet, broadcast on TV, or commercially released
• No restrictions based on the number of short films previously made by the director

Key Sections

• Feature Film Competition - approximately seven first or second feature films in official competition
• Short Film Competition - selected short films screened before features
• Special Screenings - additional films outside the competition, selected by invitation
• Camera d'Or eligibility - all Critics' Week debut features compete for the Camera d'Or, the prize for best first feature across all Cannes sections

What Filmmakers Should Know

Critics' Week does not accept open submissions in the conventional sense for its competition programming. While the official submission portal is open, the programming team actively searches for the most exceptional first and second features through the global festival circuit, relationships with sales agents, and independent outreach. Submitting through the portal is required, but selection typically follows from the programming team's active discovery process rather than from unsolicited submissions alone.

The premiere requirement is the most restrictive of any Cannes section. For foreign films, the film must not have played at any festival outside its country of origin before Critics' Week. For French films, the film must not have played at any festival anywhere, including France. This means Critics' Week is typically the world premiere for selected films. If your film has already screened at another international festival, it is ineligible.

The combination of a Critics' Week selection and the Cannes context provides debut filmmakers with access to the full range of Cannes benefits: Marche du Film accreditation, international press coverage, and sales agent attention. The section's artistic director Ava Cahen and program manager Thomas Rosso maintain relationships with international sales agents and festival programmers, which helps selected films secure distribution.

Feature films can be submitted via online link or downloaded on the Semaine de la Critique platform during registration. Short films must be uploaded directly during the submission process; any short film submitted via another medium (such as a link) will not be considered by the selection committee.

Major Awards

• AMI Paris Grand Prize - Best Film in the feature competition
• SACD Award - for a French-language work
• Gan Foundation Award - supporting the film's international distribution
• Short Film Award - Best Short Film in the short film competition
• Camera d'Or - Best First Feature across all Cannes sections (Critics' Week films compete alongside films from Official Competition, Un Certain Regard, and Directors' Fortnight)

Festival History

Critics' Week was founded in 1962 by the French Union of Film Critics and has operated every year since, making it the oldest parallel section of any major international film festival. The section was created to give critics a platform to champion emerging directors whose work might not fit the main Cannes competition's selection criteria.

The section has maintained its exclusive focus on debut and second features throughout its history, creating a consistent identity as the world's premier discovery platform for emerging directors at Cannes. Directors who launched their careers through Critics' Week include some of the most influential names in international cinema.

The section operates independently from the main Cannes festival administration. The French Union of Film Critics appoints the artistic director and selection committees. The section screens at the Miramar space in Cannes, separate from the Palais des Festivals where the Official Selection is presented. Festival de Cannes accreditation grants access to Critics' Week screenings, and reservations can be made through the official Cannes online ticket office.

See Also

For the main Cannes Film Festival, see Cannes Film Festival. To calculate the return on your festival submission spending, use the Festival ROI Calculator. To estimate your probability of acceptance based on festival tier and film characteristics, use the Festival Acceptance Odds Estimator. For debut feature strategy, see Film Festival Strategy. For understanding distribution deals that originate at Cannes, see Distribution Deals Explained.