Peter Jackson joins Cannes conversation series

Cannes has added Peter Jackson, Cate Blanchett and Tilda Swinton to its 2026 “Rendezvous at the Festival de Cannes” conversation series. Jackson’s talk is scheduled for Wednesday, May 13, one day after he receives an Honorary Palme d’Or. (festival-cannes.com 1) (festival-cannes.com 2) The festival said the three onstage sessions will expand the Official Selection screenings with public exchanges featuring major figures in contemporary cinema. Cannes announced the talks on April 29, 2026. (festival-cannes.com) Jackson’s appearance carries extra symbolism at Cannes: on May 13, 2001, the festival unveiled the first footage from “The Lord of the Rings,” helping launch the global run of his Middle-earth films. Cannes pointed to that date as part of the setup for his return. (festival-cannes.com) The move also lands as Cannes builds out its 79th edition, which runs from May 12 to May 23, 2026. The festival had already announced Jackson’s Honorary Palme d’Or for the opening ceremony on Tuesday, May 12. (festival-cannes.com 1) (festival-cannes.com 2) On the industry side, the Marché du Film said its Goes to Cannes program will welcome AFRIFF and the Tokyo International Film Festival for the first time in 2026. Cineuropa reported the expansion as a notable widening of the market showcase’s international reach. (cineuropa.org) (marchedufilm.com) AFRIFF, the Africa International Film Festival, is bringing projects that Marché du Film says highlight African and diasporic voices. The market says AFRIFF expanded in 2025 with a Film & Content Market aimed at financing, co-production and distribution. (cineuropa.org) (marchedufilm.com) The Tokyo International Film Festival showcase adds a Japanese slate in a year when Japan is the Marché du Film’s Country of Honour, according to Cineuropa. Marché du Film’s TIFF page lists five projects in the 2026 showcase. (cineuropa.org) (marchedufilm.com) Goes to Cannes runs May 15-18 at Palais K and is aimed at distributors, sales agents and festival programmers. Marché du Film says the 2026 edition also includes a new €15,000 French co-production award from Ciné+ OCS and a €10,000 minimum guarantee from Sideral Cinema. (marchedufilm.com) Taken together, the announcements show Cannes adding star-driven public events on the festival side while widening the project pipeline on the market side. By late April, the festival had already unveiled its 2026 Official Selection, and these additions fill in more of how Cannes plans to operate on and off screen in May. (festival-cannes.com 1) (festival-cannes.com 2) (cineuropa.org)