Marion Cotillard and Guillaume Canet present their thriller Karma at Cannes Festival 2026

French filmmaker Guillaume Canet is back in the spotlight with his ninth feature, Karma. This psychological thriller will premiere at Cannes 2026, in the Out of Competition section. Marion Cotillard plays the lead role, marking a new collaboration between the two artists.

Karma: a breathtaking thriller by Guillaume Canet

Sixteen years after Les Petits Mouchoirs, the director reunites with Marion Cotillard for this ambitious project. Their joint career now includes eight other films, including Blood Ties, Rock’n’Roll and Asterix and Obelix: The Middle Kingdom. This new work promises to be darker and more intense.

The film was shot in early 2025 in El Port de la Selva, Catalonia, then in Corrèze. These contrasting settings lend a singular atmosphere to the story. The screenplay was co-written with Simon Jacquet, known for L’Amour ouf and BAC Nord.

“To avoid speculation, rumors and haphazard interpretation”.

A first-rate international cast

Joining Marion Cotillard is Denis Ménochet, a powerful French actor. Argentinian actor Leonardo Sbaraglia andSpaniard Luis Zahera complete the cast. This mix of European and Latin American talent enriches the film.

The production brings together several prestigious entities. Iconoclast Films and Caneo Films produced the feature film. In addition, Pathé, Logical Content Ventures, M6 Films and Mid March Media are co-producing.

• Scheduled for release in France on October 21, 2026
• Preview at Cannes Festival 2026 in Out of Competition
• Guillaume Canet’s ninth film
• The director’s second film at Cannes after Blood Ties in 2013
• Filming to take place in early 2025 between Catalonia and Corrèze

Karma’s captivating plot

The film follows Jeanne, played by Marion Cotillard, as she tries to rebuild her life with Daniel. Daniel knows nothing of Jeanne’s tormented past. But their fragile equilibrium is about to be shaken to the core.

One day, Jeanne’s six-year-old godson Mateo disappears under mysterious circumstances. The police quickly suspect the heroine. Faced with this threat, Jeanne decides to flee.

She took refuge in France, in a religious community where she was born. She had left the place several years earlier. Daniel, convinced of his loved one’s innocence, will do everything in his power to find her before the authorities do.

A thriller set in northern Spain

The story takes place mainly in northern Spain. The Catalan landscapes provide the backdrop for this race against time. This geography reinforces the film’s tension.

Guillaume Canet’s psychological thriller is dense and immersive. Once again, the filmmaker demonstrates his ability to explore a wide range of genres. After comedy and drama, he now ventures into suspense.

The latest Canet-Cotillard collaboration

This feature-length film will be of particular interest to moviegoers. Karma marks the last collaboration between the director and his former partner. On June 27, 2025, just one month after the end of filming, they announced their separation.

In a joint statement sent to AFP, the two artists explained their approach. They wanted to make their separation public to avoid rumors. Their decision had been taken by mutual agreement.

After 18 years together, they have decided to separate in the spirit of mutual understanding. This announcement does not affect the film’s release. Audiences will therefore be able to discover Karma under the best possible conditions.

For Guillaume Canet, this return to Cannes represents a high point. His previous appearance was in 2013 with Blood Ties, also presented Out of Competition. Thirteen years later, the filmmaker once again treads the steps of the Palais des Festivals with an ambitious work.

• Guillaume Canet