Virginie Efira Shines at Cannes with Two Palme d’Or Films

Belgian actress Virginie Efira has emerged as one of the standout personalities at the 79th Cannes Film Festival, starring in two films competing for the prestigious Palme d’Or. Her double presence on the Croisette — in “Histoires parallèles” (Parallel Stories) by Iranian director Asghar Farhadi and “Soudain” (Suddenly) by Japanese Oscar-winner Ryūsuke Hamaguchi — cements her status as a global star while highlighting an unprecedented wave of Belgian talent at this year’s festival.

According to RTBF, the audience gave a long standing ovation after the screening of “Soudain,” moving Efira to tears. The Belgian public broadcaster noted that “this year at Cannes, there is one personality who stands out particularly: Virginie Efira.”

A Career Culmination

Born in Schaerbeek, Brussels, in 1977, Efira began her career as a television presenter in Belgium before transitioning to acting in the 2010s. Her breakthrough dramatic performance came in “Revoir Paris” (Paris Memories, 2022), for which she won the César Award for Best Actress in 2023. Cannes is familiar territory: she presented films in 2019 and 2021, served as master of ceremonies in 2022, and now returns as a leading contender for the festival’s top prize.

This year, Efira plays two roles in “Histoires parallèles,” a film by two-time Oscar winner Asghar Farhadi that explores themes of reality versus fiction. The role required her to develop distinct character voices and mannerisms — a challenge she embraced with characteristic subtlety. In an interview with RTBF Culture, Efira revealed that Farhadi had initially suggested using an accent to differentiate the characters, but she proposed working on elocution instead. “These two women are constructed differently,” she explained. “One observes herself a lot, the other is more in a form of assurance — even if that assurance remains fragile.”

Working with Masters of Cinema

In “Soudain,” Efira plays a director in a retirement home in what marks Hamaguchi’s first French-language film. The Oscar-winning director of “Drive My Car” has crafted what early reviews describe as a deeply humanist melodrama. Efira told RTBF that working with Hamaguchi profoundly marked her: “It invites us to better understand those who don’t think like us, to pay attention to details, and to seek modes of relationship in our contemporary society.”

The film received strong early reviews, with critics praising Efira’s performance as one of the greatest of her career. The Belga News Agency reported that the standing ovation following the screening of “Soudain” was a testament to the emotional impact of the film.

The Belgian Wave at Cannes 2026

Efira’s prominence is part of a larger story: the 79th Cannes Film Festival features an unprecedented Belgian presence. Two Belgian films are in the main competition for the Palme d’Or: “Coward” by Lukas Dhont (whose previous film “Close” won the Grand Prix in 2022) and “Notre Salut” by Emmanuel Marre. A record eleven films supported by the Centre du Cinéma et de l’Audiovisuel de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles are part of the overall selection.

The festival jury is presided over by South Korean director Park Chan-wook, with Belgian director Laura Wandel serving as a jury member — the first Belgian on the Cannes jury since 2004.

Analysis: A Landmark for Belgian Cinema

Efira’s double feature is emblematic of a broader cultural moment. The 2026 Cannes Film Festival represents the strongest-ever showing for Belgian cinema on the international stage. With two Belgian films in the main competition and a record eleven supported by the Wallonia-Brussels Federation across the full selection, Belgium’s cultural influence has never been more visible at the world’s most prestigious film festival.

For Efira personally, this moment has been years in the making. Her trajectory from Belgian television presenter to César-winning dramatic actress to international star working with Oscar-winning directors from Iran and Japan demonstrates a rare versatility. The ability to perform across languages — French in “Histoires parallèles” and Japanese in “Soudain” — and to adapt to radically different directorial styles speaks to her range as a performer.

What’s Next

The Cannes Film Festival runs until May 23, when the Palme d’Or will be awarded. Both “Histoires parallèles” and “Soudain” are considered strong contenders, and speculation is mounting about whether Efira could also receive a Best Actress award. The Belgian films “Coward” and “Notre Salut” are also in the running for the top prize, making this a potentially historic year for Belgian cinema.

Regardless of the outcome, Efira’s double feature at this year’s festival has already cemented her place among the most versatile and sought-after actresses in international cinema. For Belgian cinema, the implications are significant: the strong showing at Cannes 2026 signals growing international influence and could attract further investment and cross-border collaboration.

As Efira herself told RTBF, reflecting on the experience of presenting two films back-to-back: “This is not an experience that happens every year. Yet the real moment when everything comes together — where you fully feel the pleasure, excitement and joy — remains the filming.”