ACID, the Cannes Film Festival sidebar run by France’s association of film directors whose goal is promoting the theatrical distribution of independent films, unveiled its 2026 lineup on Tuesday, with general delegate Pauline Ginot promising a selection of nine “adventurous” and “bold” films from emerging voices from such countries as Iran, Switzerland and, of course, France.
Launched in 1992, ACID has made a reputation for itself for discovering up-and-coming directing talents. Among others, it brought to Cannes the first features of such auteurs as Anatomy of a Fall director Justine Triet, who premiered Age of Panic there, Radu Jude, who unveiled The Happiest Girl in the World in the program in 2009, and Kaouther Ben Hania (The Voice of Hind Rajab), who screened her feature debut, The Blade of Tunis, at ACID in 2014. ACID has previously also championed early works by the likes of Guy Maddin, including My Winnipeg.