7 movies filmed in the Sud and selected at the Festival de Cannes 2026

For her first full-length film, Avril Besson has signed an ode to freedom and reconstruction, with stars India Hair, Raya Martigny and Éric Cantona. The plot follows Charlie, a young woman in search of a meaning to her life, who takes refuge in a deserted seaside town in the Var after her grandmother’s funeral. Both melancholic and full of hope, this pretty romantic comedy captures the timeless atmosphere of Le Lavandou, well-known for its beaches, its turquoise water and its preserved natural environment with lovely walks beside the sea and incredible views of the Mediterranean. In the film, the great stretch of fine sand on the beach at Cavalière becomes the silent witness to an unexpected encounter. Some scenes were also shot in Toulon and near La Crau, reminiscent of the wide variety of landscapes in the Var, between sea and hinterland. A film which will certainly make you want to drop everything and head for the sun of the Côte d’Azur.

With Marion Cotillard, Noémie Merlant and Martina La Manna, Bertrand Mandico takes the spectators back to the 1980s through the portrait of an actress in search of redemption. The film was mostly shot in Nice, in emblematic venues such as Villa Arson,a hot spot for contemporary art where an 18th-century dwelling blends with brutalist architecture, surrounded by a Mediterranean garden and its panoramic view of the Baie des Anges. Another striking setting in the film is the former IBM building in La Gaude, a masterpiece by Marcel Breuer, whose surprising Y-shape can be seen from the heights of Saint-Jeannet. During the shoot, you can also see the decor of Vitrolles, a village nestling between the Etang de Berre and the Plateau de l’Arbois and particularly recognisable with its rock overlooking the landscape, and the Espace Provence Studios in Martigues. Contrasting settings which offer a new perspective of these landscapes of the Sud, which are both urban and wild.

This historical film, starring Simon Abkarian, Simon Russell Beale and Benoît Magimel, traces the beginnings of the French Resistance movement through General de Gaulle’s path. Among the film locations, Villa Rocabella in Le Pradet embodies the elegance and lifestyle of the Côte d’Azur, with its prestigious architecture and gardens open onto the Mediterranean. You’ll find yourself wanting to visit the mythical villas of the Côte d’Azur coast, such as Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, the Domaine du Rayol or the exotic gardens in Menton. The Salon-de-Provence aerodrome also has a part in the shooting of a film where you plunge into History, and explore the architectural and natural treasures of the region.

Agnès Jaoui and Daniel Auteuil are on the billboard of this social drama, which takes place in the intimate world of a production of The Marriage of Figaro. Tensions and passions rhythm the film and come to life particularly in Lacoste, a hilltop village in the Luberon, which is well-known for its château overlooking the village. It was the residence of the Marquis de Sade and was entirely rehabbed by the stylist Pierre Cardin to become an exhibition venue. Around the village, there are various viewpoints high above the fields of lavender and the Luberon’s cedar forest, which make up the ideal setting for nature walks. Among the other filming locations, the Château de Sannes, a magnificent wine estate open to visitors and with tastings, and the Marseille railway station, with its panoramic esplanade and the great stairs which take you down into the town, complete this Provencal backdrop.

For his first film, Julien Gaspar-Oliveri explores family links and unspeakable secrets through the story of Enzo and his sister Carla. Shooting took the team to Martigues, from Avenue Urdy Milou to the La Halle car park, along the beach and onto the Plateau du Grand Vallat. An opportunity to discover other facets and other viewpoints of the town nicknamed the Venice of Provence because of its canals, fishing boats and its colourful, sunny facades. In addition to this, the film explores less expected places such as the Karting du Rove or the Col de la Gineste road, which winds through the garrigue behind the calanques. A few scenes were also shot in Marseille, in the Belle de Mai quarter. A mixture of settings which reveals an aspect of a region which is both modern and traditional.

With her short film, Mathilde Bédouet captures the end of carefreeness through the story of two inseparable teenagers: Marion and Camille. Their last school trip takes them to an island in the South of France, where the wild landscapes and sunny beaches become the stage for their sometimes magnificent and sometimes brutal “first times” as teenagers. The film was entirely shot in the settings of Hyères and the island of Porquerolles, with secret creeks, pine-tree-lined paths and crystal-clear waters. A film which will make you want to escape to these preserved lands in the heart of the Port-Cros National Park, which also includes the Iles d’Or, and which stands out with its incredible natural and cultural wealth: historic forts and architectural monuments, a botanical repository, a seabed which is home to rare and protected species… a magical world to discover on the footpaths and the underwater trails!

For his first film, Hadrien Bels, author of the novel Cinq dans tes yeux, which also takes place in Marseille, takes the spectator right into the bubbling Noailles quarter. The film, which covers one day, follows Skander, who has been a hairdresser for forty years and who is about to sell his salon, the symbol of a time and a community, and Mehdi, who wants to open his salon in the quartiers Nord of Marseille. But there are surprises in store for the two hairdressers, and the day is going to be a tough one. A short film which plunges you into the lively narrow streets of Noailles, well-known for its market, its spice shops, its decoration or oriental delicacies boutiques, hammams and mythical addresses such as the Maison Empereur hardware store, the Père Blaize herbal tea shop, Chez Yassine or the Chez Sauveur pizzeria. A quarter where you can find things to do all day long.