Pierre Salvadori's 'La Vénus électrique' to Open 79th Cannes Film Festival

Pierre Salvadori's historical romantic comedy "La Vénus électrique" will open the 79th Cannes Film Festival on May 12, 2026, the festival's organizers announced on Wednesday, April 1. The film will receive its world premiere at the Grand Théâtre Lumière following the opening ceremony, which will be hosted by Franco-Malian actress Eye Haïdara. Simultaneously with its Cannes premiere, the film will open in French cinemas nationwide on the same evening. The festival will run from May 12 to May 23, 2026, on the Croisette.

A painter, a con artist, and fake séances in 1928 Paris Set in Paris in 1928, "La Vénus électrique" centers on Antoine Balestro, a fashionable young painter who has been unable to work since the death of his wife, to the despair of his gallery owner Armand. One drunken evening, Antoine attempts to contact his deceased wife through a psychic, unaware that he is actually speaking with Suzanne, a humble carnival worker who has sneaked into the psychic's caravan to steal food. Suzanne, a gifted fraudster, soon enlists Armand's help and stages a series of fake séances. Little by little, Antoine regains his creative inspiration, but the situation grows complicated for Suzanne as she falls in love with the man she is deceiving. The festival describes the film as a "delightfully burlesque romantic comedy," rooted in the imagery of the Roaring Twenties, with its artistic effervescence, popular entertainment, and spiritualism. The film draws inspiration from sophisticated Hollywood comedy in the tradition of Ernst Lubitsch, Billy Wilder, and Blake Edwards, according to festival materials.

„Cannes celebrates everything I love about cinema. Direction, boldness, freedom, and filmmakers. Cannes discovers them, supports them, and celebrates them. In its own way, my film embodies all the faith and love I have for my craft. I am so proud and happy that it's kicking off the Festival!” — Pierre Salvadori via The Hollywood Reporter

Salvadori's 11th film unites top French cinema stars "La Vénus électrique" marks Salvadori's 11th feature film in a career spanning 34 years, and his first with a period setting. Pio Marmaï leads the cast in his fourth collaboration with the director, joined by Anaïs Demoustier, Gilles Lellouche, Vimala Pons, and Gustave Kervern. The film is produced by Philippe Martin of Les Films Pelléas and is a French-Belgian co-production, with Belgian partners including Versus Production, RTBF, Be TV, and Proximus. The project received support from the Centre du Cinéma et de l'Audiovisuel of the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles and the Tax Shelter of the Belgian Federal Government. International representation is handled by Goodfellas. Salvadori is known for previous works including "Priceless" (2006) and "The Trouble with You" (2018). The film succeeds "Leave One Day," Amélie Bonnin's debut feature, which opened the 78th edition of the festival.

The Cannes Film Festival has a long tradition of opening with an out-of-competition film that sets the tone for the event. The Directors' Fortnight, a parallel section of the festival, has awarded the Carrosse d'Or since 2002 as an honorary tribute from the Société des réalisateurs de films to a peer filmmaker. Pierre Salvadori, born on November 8, 1964, in Tunisia, is a French actor, director, and screenwriter whose work is associated with comedy and a blend of melancholy and humor.

Claire Denis to receive the Carrosse d'Or honorary award Alongside the opening film announcement, organizers confirmed that French director Claire Denis will receive the Carrosse d'Or (Golden Coach) during the festival, an honorary distinction awarded by the Directors' Fortnight. Denis is known for films including "High Life" and "White Material." The festival's official selection programming is set to be revealed at an event in Paris on April 9. The jury that will award the Palme d'Or will be presided over by South Korean director Park Chan-wook, according to La Vanguardia. New Zealand filmmaker Peter Jackson and American actress and singer Barbra Streisand are set to receive honorary Palmes d'Or at this year's edition, the same source reported.