Belgium Set to Dazzle at the 78th Cannes Film Festival with Dardenne Brothers Leading the Charge

Brussels, The Gulf Observer: Belgian cinema is poised to shine on the international stage once again at the 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival, with the celebrated Dardenne brothers returning to the main competition and a strong national presence across multiple festival sections.

Veteran filmmakers Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne will vie for a historic third Palme d’Or with their latest work Jeunes mères, a powerful portrayal of life inside a maternal shelter. Having previously won the prestigious award for Rosetta (1999) and L’Enfant (2005), the brothers now join the competition for the tenth time, cementing their legacy as Cannes stalwarts.

Their film will face stiff competition, including the Belgian co-production Alpha by Julia Ducournau, Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme, Jafar Panahi’s A Simple Accident, and Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value. The main competition jury is chaired this year by renowned French actress Juliette Binoche.

Parallel to the official selection, Belgian director Laura Wandel will open the 64th Critics’ Week with her deeply affecting film L’intérêt d’Adam, which follows the harrowing journey of a malnourished four-year-old boy placed in hospital care by court order. The film is produced by Les Films du Fleuve—run by the Dardenne brothers—alongside Dragons Films.

Belgium’s footprint in Critics’ Week continues with Alexe Poukine’s Kika, as well as co-productions Imago, Rietland, and the closing film Planètes, underscoring the country’s rising creative output.

In the Directors’ Fortnight, the Dardenne brothers’ co-production Enzo will open the program. This section will also feature Valéry Carnoy’s The Foxes’ Dance in the feature selection, while Dorian Jespers’ short film Loynes adds further Belgian flair.

Prominent Belgian names are set to appear throughout the festival. Acclaimed filmmaker Lucas Belvaux will preside over the Citizenship Jury. On the acting front, Cécile de France will grace the red carpet with two films: the sci-fi feature Dalloway, starring pop icon Mylène Farmer, and The Coming of the Future by Cédric Klapisch, co-starring Olivier Gourmet. Virginie Efira is also set to return with her latest film Private Life, appearing alongside American star Jodie Foster.

Adding a nostalgic touch, the Cannes Classics lineup will include La course en tête, a documentary tribute to Belgian cycling legend Eddy Merckx.

The Cannes Film Festival will officially open this evening on the iconic Croisette and will conclude on 24 May, promising two weeks of cinematic celebration—and a luminous moment for Belgian cinema on the world stage.