Paper Tiger joins Cannes

James Gray’s “Paper Tiger” is now in the Cannes competition lineup, after Neon bought North American rights to the film. (festival-cannes.com) (variety.com) Cannes added the movie on April 22, 2026, in a late update to the Official Selection for the festival’s 79th edition. The festival’s press office listed “Paper Tiger” in competition alongside 15 other newly announced titles across its sections. (festival-cannes.com) Variety reported that the film will world premiere in competition and stars Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson and Miles Teller. Neon’s pickup gives the movie a North American distributor before it reaches the Croisette. (variety.com) The late addition closed a gap left when Cannes unveiled its first 2026 lineup on April 9 without Gray’s film. Thierry Frémaux told Variety at the time that he hoped the movie could be added later once “contractual issues” were resolved. (variety.com) The story is a crime drama about two brothers chasing the American dream who get pulled into a violent scheme involving the Russian “Mafiya,” according to the film’s synopsis. Deadline and Variety both described the project as written and directed by Gray. (deadline.com) (variety.com) For Cannes, the movie adds one of the festival’s biggest American star packages to the main competition. Variety reported that Gray will be one of two American filmmakers in competition this year, alongside Ira Sachs. (variety.com) For Gray, the selection extends a long Cannes run. Variety said he has previously brought five films to the Croisette, including “Armageddon Time,” “The Immigrant,” “Two Lovers,” “We Own the Night” and “The Yards,” and served on the jury in 2009. (variety.com) For Neon, the deal puts another Cannes competition title on its release slate as the festival heads toward its May opening. The company now arrives with a James Gray film that Cannes itself held back until the final pieces were in place. (deadline.com) (festival-cannes.com)