Mar 24, 2026 10:41am PT

Cannes Chief Thierry Frémaux on Hollywood Cutbacks, Festival Politics and Industry Upheaval: ‘Our Mission Is Very Simple — to Define What Cinema Will Be in 2026’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Elsa Keslassy

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Elsa Keslassy

International Correspondent

@elsakeslassy

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Thierry Frémaux often says he returns to Cannes each year like an athlete ready to defend the festival’s title as the reigning champion. In 2026, which marks his 25th year at the festival, that metaphor lands with particular force. As Hollywood navigates a period of upheaval, marked by consolidation, layoffs and growing risk aversion, the role of the Cannes Film Festival feels more charged than ever.

“Cinema is going through a period of great fragility amid the crisis in theatrical exhibition, the changing behavior of new generations of audiences, the ubiquity of other screens, the merger of U.S. studios, piracy and artificial intelligence — which can be another form of piracy — and so on,” Frémaux tells Variety in a wide-ranging interview at his Paris office. And yet, with half of the competition secured and 400 more films to watch, he says optimistically, “We’ve been seeing films that make us happy … Cinema is in a state of constant creativity and renewal.”

Cannes Chief Thierry Frémaux on Hollywood Cutbacks, Festival Politics and Industry Upheaval: 'Our Mission Is Very Simple — to Define What Cinema Will Be in 2026' (EXCLUSIVE)