Juho Kuosmanen, Magnus von Horn, Carine Tardieu projects selected for Cannes Investors Circle

The Marché du Film has introduced the eight directors chosen to showcase their projects at the fourth iteration of its Cannes Investors Circle. 

This initiative seeks to link high-caliber international arthouse films with potential investors.

This carefully selected list highlights works in progress by directors recognized at Cannes and Venice, showcasing diverse filmmaking styles and operating within budget ranges from €1M to over €12M.

The directors in the lineup include Juho Kuosmanen, who received the Cannes Grand Prix for his previous film Compartment No. 6. 

Additional participants include Atsuko Hirayanagi, who was part of Cannes Critics’ Week with Oh Lucy!, and Magnus Von Horn, who introduced The Girl with the Needle in Competition in 2024.

Also participating are Felipe Gálvez (The Settlers, Un Certain Regard, Cannes 2023), Carine Tardieu (The Ties That Bind Us, Orizzonti, Venice 2024), Emanuel Pârvu (Three Kilometres to the End of the World, In Competition, Cannes 2024), Ismaël El Iraki (Zanka Contact, Orizzonti, Venice 2020), and Noé Débré, screenwriter of Dheepan, which won the Palme d’Or at Cannes 2015.

"Following the previous edition, the Investors Circle has already resulted in real investment deals, attracting financiers to projects like Gentle Monster by Marie Kreutzer and Poeta Chileno by Sebastián Lelio," stated Guillaume Esmiol, Executive Director of the Marché du Film.

“Moreover, filmmakers involved were featured in high-profile festival selections. In this new season, we are honing the selection process, aiming for an elite selection of projects. We also intend to broaden the initiative's reach beyond Cannes through year-round activities, such as a recent workshop conducted in Trieste during When East Meets West.”

Steering the 2026 selection process was the Head of Investors Circle, Alexandra Zakharchenko, with support from a freshly assembled committee of industry leaders.

This year’s panel included Céline Dornier (Content Executive, IPR.VC), Jean des Forêts (Founder & CEO, Petit Film), Alice Laffillé (Vice President of International Sales, FilmNation Entertainment), and Anthony Muir (Senior Executive for International Co-Productions, Film i Väst).

Set to occur on Saturday (May 16), and Sunday (May 17), the event will unfold at Plage des Palmes, the official beachfront setting of the Marché du Film – Festival de Cannes.