Acclaimed Iranian director Asghar Farhadi is set to return to the Cannes Film Festival competition with his latest feature, Histoires Parallèles (Parallel Tales), a French-language drama starring Pierre Niney, Isabelle Huppert, and Catherine Deneuve.

The two-time Academy Award winner Farhadi is known for his intricately constructed narratives and morally complex characters.

A defining figure in contemporary Iranian cinema, Farhadi's films frequently explore the tensions between personal responsibility, family relationships, and social expectations, often revealing deeper ethical dilemmas beneath everyday situations.

Histoires Parallèles marks a continuation of Farhadi’s work outside Iran, following previous international productions such as The Past and Everybody Knows.

Farhadi's storytelling approach remains rooted in the psychological depth and realism that earned him global recognition.

Over the past two decades, Farhadi has become one of the most decorated filmmakers of his generation. His films A Separation (2011) and The Salesman (2016) both won the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film, while his work has also been honoured at major festivals, including Cannes, Berlin, and Venice.

His newest film, Histoires Parallèles (Parallel Tales), will have its world premiere in Cannes, joining a competition lineup that features works from leading directors across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, bringing together both established festival regulars and acclaimed auteurs returning to the Croisette with new projects.

The 79th edition of the Cannes Film Festival will take place from 12 to 23 May 2026 in Cannes, France.

Other films vying for the top prize
 

Besides Histoires Parallèles, the selection includes previous Palme d’Or winners, Oscar-winning filmmakers, and some of the most prominent voices in contemporary world cinema, reflecting Cannes’ continued focus on auteur-driven storytelling across a wide range of cinematic traditions.

Confirmed competition films include:

Amarga Navidad (Spain), dir. Pedro Almodovar
Histoires Parallèles (France), dir. Asghar Farhadi
La Vie d'une Femme (France), dir. Charline Bourgeois-Tacquet
La Bola Negra (Spain), dir. Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi
Coward (Belgium), dir. Lukas Dhont
Das Geträumte Abenteuer (Germany), dir. Valeska Grisebach
Soudain (France/Japan), dir. Ryusuke Hamaguchi
l'Inconnue (France), dir. Arthur Harari
Garance (France), dir. Jeanne Herry
Sheep in the Box (Japan), dir. Hirokazu Kore-eda
Hope (South Korea), dir. Na Hong-jin
Nagi Notes (Japan), dir. Koji Fukada
Gentle Monster (Austria/France), dir. Marie Kreutzer
Notre Salut (Belgium), dir. Emmanuel Marre
Fjord (Romania/Norway), dir. Cristian Mungiu
Les Histoires de la Nuit (France), dir. Lea Mysius
Moulin (Hungary/France), dir. Laszlo Nemes
Fatherland (Poland), dir. Pawel Pawlikowski
The Man I Love (US), dir. Ira Sachs
El Ser Querido (Spain), dir. Rodrigo Sorogoyen
Minotaur (Russia), dir. Andrey Zvyagintsev