A list of contenders for the Cannes Film Festival was late released , and while they are compete for the in demand Palme d’Or , these films may also make a splash at the 2026Oscars . Although the Oscar are often turn over one of the biggest nights in movies , festivals like Cannes are just as pivotal . Movies likePulp Fiction , Parasite , Taxi Driver , andApocalypse Nowhave all won the Palme d’Or , and went on to become legendary in the cinema community . Oftentimes , the moving-picture show that succeed at Cannes have a Brobdingnagian impactonthe Oscars slipstream nearly a year later .

The 78th Cannes Film Festival will begin on Tuesday , May 13and run until Saturday , May 24 . At this time , there areabout 19 movies in contention for the Palme d’Or , and more will be added according to the fete ’s cosmopolitan delegate , Thierry Frémaux . study how pivotal movies likeAnoraandEmilia Pérezwere to the 2025 Oscars , this year ’s Cannes protester could be just as of import . The following are five former predictions for the Cannes contenders at the 2026 Oscars .

5Paul Mescal Will Get A Best Actor Nomination Post Gladiator 2

Mescal Will Be Up Against Stiff Competition

One prediction for the 2026 Oscars that seems quite likely after the recent Cannes announcement is that Paul Mescal will be nominated for Best Actor . To some , this theory may seem likely because ofhis forthcoming historic drama , Hamnet , directed by Chloé Zhao , in which he will play William Shakespeare . However , I conceive it is hisotherhistorical dramatic play , The chronicle of Sound , that will snag him the nomination . This playscript - to - movie adaption follows two men who travel throughout New England recording folk songs in the summertime of 1919 . Based on a beautiful story , Mescal could glitter in this tragic romance .

If Mescal does earn a Best Actor nomination , it will be particularly exciting because of howGladiator 2fared in 2024 . The flick did well financially and critically , but was wanting from the Oscars , leaving Mescal empty - handed . Fortunately , The History of Soundcan make up for that . Of course , a nominating address is no warrantee of a win . view the current Oscars 2026 foretelling , Mescal will likely be up against with child names such as Leonardo DiCaprio , George Clooney , and Timothée Chalamet . It is too early to make a strong guess , but hopefully , Mescal can grab a nomination at least .

4Wes Anderson’s New Movie Won’t Get Nominated At All

Wes Anderson Needs To Wow Critics For An Oscar Nom

A far less exciting prognostication post Cannes nominating speech is thatWes Anderson ’s new picture show , The Phoenician Scheme , won’t obtain any nomination at the 2026 Oscars . presently , The Phoenician Schemeis up for the Palme d’Or , and is being marketed as a black comedy espionage photographic film starring Benicio del Toro , Michael Cera , Riz Ahmed , Tom Hanks , and more . Unfortunately , despite Anderson being a darling managing director , his most recent work has been systematically skitter over at the Oscars . Neither 2023’sAsteroid Cityor 2021’sThe French Dispatchearned any Oscar nominations . The Phoenician Schemecould continue this trend .

Here ’s every way-out and nonconcentric movie by director Wes Anderson , from The Royal Tenenbaums to Fantastic Mr. Fox , ranked bad to best .

Based on Anderson ’s recent Oscars absence , The Phoenician Schemewould have to really wow critics to gain a spot at the 2026 ceremonial occasion . Beyond just dash and crotchet , the movie would have to say a compelling tale that puts it on the level of more " serious " work . The last time Anderson get ahead an Oscar for a feature moving-picture show was in 2014 forThe Grand Budapest Hotel , so arguably , The Phoenician Schemewould have to provide something like However , at this head , with the motion-picture show still weeks from its release , it seems like it will be another overlooked Anderson project .

A composite image of Wes Anderson and his movies

3Alpha Will Be The Next Anatomy Of A Fall

Alpha Benefits From A Captivating Storyline (& A Past Win)

At the 2024 Oscars , the French criminal offense photographic film , Anatomy of a Fall , absolutely swept , raking in five awards . A movie that could come in those same exact step isAlpha . Another Palme d’Or campaigner , this movie come after an 11 - year - older girl who lives in a fictional city in the eighties and is affected by the AIDs crisiswhen one of her parents fall ominous . The movie star Golshifteh Farahani , Tahar Rahim , Emma Mackey , and Finnegan Oldfield , and is guide by Julia Ducournau . Though it is in English , the movie is technically French .

It is also a inviolable challenger because Ducournau previously won the Palme d’Or in 2021 for her film , Titane .

LikeAnatomy of a Fall , Alphabenefits from having a truly compelling history . Based on the premise alone , it is clear that this will be a raw and heartbreaking movie that deal out with real - life issues and the complexities of growing up . It is also a strong contender because Ducournau previously win the Palme d’Or in 2021 for her motion picture , Titane . AlthoughAlphaseems to veer away from Ducournau ’s typically grotesque , repulsion workplace , it could be her most impactful oeuvre yet .

Rachel Zegler as Snow White in the film Snow White

2Eddington Will Be Ari Aster’s Very First Academy Award Nomination

Why Aster Deserves An Oscar Nom

Another well - known theatre director with a movie premier at Cannes in 2025 is Ari Aster . His latest picture , Eddington , is a Western inglorious comedy which follows a minor - townspeople sheriff and a city manager whose disagreement turns into an intense repulsion in the bounce of 2020 in Eddington , New Mexico . The picture show stars Joaquin Phoenix , Pedro Pascal , Emma Stone , Austin Butler , and Luke Grimes . Though this could be a long shot , I thinkEddingtonhas a chance of gain Aster his very first Oscar nomination , mainly because the motion picture diverge from his usualhorror route and has his most hotshot - studded cast yet .

Aster has yet to be nominated for an Academy Award , but his reputation precedes him . After directing horrifying movies likeHereditaryandMidsommar , he has become a monumental name in repulsion . Unfortunately , his most recent film , Beau Is Afraid , go out most audiences disappointed . In this room , Eddingtonis Aster ’s opportunity to not only break his typical horror mold , but do so in a successful way of life . With substantial actor and a self-coloured premiss , this could be Aster ’s chance to reach more realization for his work .

1Cannes Movies Will Not Sweep In 2026 Like They Did In 2025

The 2026 Oscars Will Be Full Of Surprises

Overall , my main foretelling concerning the 2026 Oscars is thatthe current Cannes movies will not be as pregnant as the Cannes movies from 2024.At the 2025 Oscars , Anoratook home several major prizes , and had won the Palme d’Or just calendar month before . Yet , this twelvemonth , it seems like the competition will be even more violent between Cannes movies and other films . Major directors like Noah Baumbach , Chloé Zhao , Paul Thomas Anderson , Yorgos Lanthimos , and Guillermo Del Toro are all releasing movie . Plus , franchise likeAvatarandWickedwill make important bids .

The 2026 Oscars will take place on Sunday , March 15 . They will be hosted by Conan O’Brien .

Thebest prediction to make about the 2026 Oscars is that anything could hap . Past years have taught us that what we remember will win may not , and vice versa . For example , Francis Ford Coppola’sMegalopoliswas anticipated to be a immense release , yet the moving picture itself failed to captivate TV audience . Therefore , only time ( and more cinema fete ) can severalise us how theOscarsare lead to bring out .

Scarlett Johansson as Zora Bennett looking scared in Jurassic World Rebirth.

Paul Mescal in Gladiator 2 and Joaquin Phoenix in Beau is Afraid

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