With Palestinian and Moroccan participation... Arab presence at the Cannes Festival 2026

The 79th Cannes Film Festival is witnessing a distinguished Arab presence through films that address humanitarian and social issues, amidst strong competition. The management of the International Cannes Film Festival revealed the list of Arab works participating in its 79th session, within the "Certain Regard" section, in a presence that reflects the diversity of visions and themes presented by contemporary Arab cinema. "Yesterday the Eye Did Not Sleep" The Palestinian participation comes through the film "Yesterday the Eye Did Not Sleep" by director Raakan Mayasi, who is embarking on his first long narrative experience. The events of the film take place in a Bedouin village in the Bekaa plain, where the disappearance of a girl named "Jamra" leads to escalating tension and the revelation of secrets in a society governed by customs and traditions. The work carries a deep humanitarian character, where issues of love, jealousy, and social pressure intertwine in a dramatic narrative ...