The film that sparked the most discussion among audiences at Cannes.

Although it didn't win the Palme d'Or at Cannes 2026, director Na Hong Jin's film "Hope" still became one of the most talked-about works of the season.

The most disappointing film at Cannes.

Director Na Hong Jin and his film Hope were unable to win the Palme d'Or at Cannes 2026. Nevertheless, this genre-blending work became one of the most talked-about films of the year.

Set in a remote port village near the demilitarized zone between South Korea and North Korea, Hope follows a police chief and a young officer as they confront a mysterious entity.

A scene from Na Hong Jin's "Hope". Photo: Plus M Entertainment.

The film features a star-studded cast including Hwang Jung Min, Jo In Sung, and Jung Ho Yeon, alongside international stars such as Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, and Taylor Russell. The characters in the film are portrayed around very human reactions to crisis, such as fear, panic, and denial.

Despite missing out on the top prize, Hope is still considered a "dark horse" at Cannes thanks to its unique blend of thriller, humor, action, and science fiction.

The film generated significant media attention at the film festival, was sold to many major international markets, and was considered to have somewhat replicated the appeal that Decision to Leave had created in 2022. Many critics viewed it as a rare surprise in a Cannes season that was generally considered rather subdued.

At a press conference in Cannes, Na Hong Jin stated that the film stemmed from his reflections on violence and its origins. “I wanted to explore how small events can gradually spiral out of control. This time, that question is expanded to the scale of the entire universe,” the director shared.

Prior to Hope , Na Hong Jin had already made his mark with works such as The Chaser, The Yellow Sea , and The Wailing . Hope is scheduled to be released in South Korea this summer.

Cannes 2026 results

Director Cristian Mungiu's film Fjord won the Palme d'Or, marking the filmmaker's second victory at Cannes after 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days.

Set in Norway, Fjord is a drama film revolving around the political polarization in modern society. The film stars Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve as a Romanian Protestant couple who move to Norway. Their lives are turned upside down when the local child protection agency takes their children away after discovering that the parents used corporal punishment.

Director Cristian Mungiu (second from left), winner of the Palme d'Or for the film Fjord , poses for a photo with Park Chan Wook (third from left), president of the jury at the 79th Cannes Film Festival, on stage during the closing ceremony in Cannes, France. Photo: Reuters-Yonhap.

Director Cristian Mungiu stated that the film reflects the growing divisions and extremism in modern society.

With this victory, Mungiu became the 10th director in history to win two Palme d'Or awards. Previously, he won the award with *4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days* .

Fjord 's victory also extends Neon's impressive streak, as it marks the seventh consecutive film released by the studio to win the Palme d'Or. Previous winners include It Was Just an Accident and Anora – which later went on to win Best Picture at the Oscars.

Photo: Reuters.

The Grand Prix (the second-highest award) went to Minotaur by Russian director Andrey Zvyagintsev.

This year's jury is chaired by South Korean director Park Chan Wook, with members including Demi Moore, Chloé Zhao, and Stellan Skarsgård.

In other categories, the Best Director award was shared by Pawel Pawlikowski for Fatherland and the Spanish duo Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo for The Black Ball .

The Best Actress award was shared by Virginie Efira and Tao Okamoto for their performances in All of a Sudden .

Meanwhile, the Best Actor award was also shared between Emmanuel Macchia and Valentin Campagne for their roles in the film *Coward* .

The award for Best Screenplay went to Emmanuel Marre for "A Man of His Time ," inspired by the true story of his great-grandfather during the Vichy period in France.

The Camera d'Or award for best debut film was given to Ben'Imana by director Marie Clémentine Dusabejambo.

Source: https://znews.vn/bo-phim-khien-khan-gia-ban-tan-nhieu-nhat-cannes-post1654106.html