Belgian Film ‘Coward’ Wins Best Actor at Cannes Festival
Belgian director Lukas Dhont’s third feature film, Coward, has achieved a remarkable victory at the 79th Cannes Film Festival, with its two lead actors — Emmanuel Macchia and Valentin Campagne — jointly winning the Best Actor award. The war drama, set during World War I, also earned Dhont the Prix du Cinéma Positif earlier in the festival, cementing his status as one of Europe’s most celebrated filmmakers.
According to VRT NWS, Macchia and Campagne were chosen above established actors including Javier Bardem and Sebastian Stan, a decision that left the young performers visibly stunned on stage. “It didn’t feel appropriate beforehand to receive the Best Actor award,” Macchia told reporters. “But when I heard our names, I was really happy. It’s for both of us, and not for one of us. Without the other, we could never have done this.”
A Remarkable Discovery
What makes the achievement extraordinary is the actors’ backgrounds. Macchia, who makes his acting debut in Coward, was studying landscape architecture at a school in Gembloux when Dhont discovered him during a school visit. Campagne had some small roles in theater and television, but neither had formal acting training. Dhont, speaking to VRT NWS, praised his leads: “Seeing that they are chosen above those heavyweight actors, that is an ode to the strength with which they played the lead roles in that film.”
The film follows Pierre (Macchia), a young Belgian soldier arriving at the front in 1916, eager to prove himself in battle. He meets Francis (Campagne), who stages improvised shows to boost troop morale. As the war rages around them, the two men develop a deep connection, finding escape through theater and romance. Critics have described it as a “swooning queer wartime romance” and an “intimate queer drama.”
A Hat Trick at Cannes
Coward marks Dhont’s third Cannes competition entry, and all three of his feature films have now won prizes at the festival. His debut, Girl (2018), won the Caméra d’Or, while Close (2022) earned the Grand Prix. Variety reported that the Best Actor win was one of the evening’s most emotional moments, with Campagne literally leaping into his co-star’s arms on stage.
Earlier in the festival, Dhont received the Prix du Cinéma Positif, an award recognizing cinema that inspires hope, resilience, and human kindness. The film was also one of 22 titles competing for the Palme d’Or, which went to Cristian Mungiu’s Fjord.
Official Praise and National Pride
Flemish Minister of Culture Caroline Gennez called Dhont “an exceptional filmmaker and a generous ambassador of our film scene,” adding that “with ‘Coward’ he proves again how important investments in our filmmakers are.” Karla Puttemans, Director-Intendant of the Flanders Audiovisual Fund (VAF), declared that the achievement represents “Vlaamse filmgeschiedenis” (Flemish film history), noting that “when exceptional talent, a special sensitivity for what makes us human, extreme work ethic and great professionalism come together, anything is possible.”
Critical and Commercial Prospects
The film has received strong early reviews, holding a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes (based on 12 reviews) and a Metacritic score of 68/100, indicating generally favorable reception. Deadline chief film critic Pete Hammond praised Dhont’s work, writing: “Coward may be a story taking place in war, but it is set firmly in the human heart.”
Mubi has acquired distribution rights for multiple territories including the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America, Germany, Austria, Italy, Spain, Turkey, and North America. Lumière will distribute the film in Benelux, with a theatrical release scheduled for autumn 2026.
A Tradition of Queer Storytelling
Coward continues Dhont’s focus on queer narratives, following Girl (which explored the transgender experience) and Close (a coming-of-age story about queer adolescence). The screenplay, co-written with longtime collaborator Angelo Tijssens, was developed over three years of research including visits to London’s Imperial War Museums and archives in Belgium and France. The writers discovered that male soldiers on the front lines would perform theater pieces, often cross-dressing and playing the roles of wives and mothers, with some discovering rare romantic connections.
Macchia, in his acceptance speech, articulated the film’s broader message: “I really hope that this film will help young men, young women, young people to love themselves and accept themselves as they are.”
What’s Next
As Belgian cinema celebrates its growing global recognition — with several other Flemish productions also featured at Cannes this year, including the short film Pithead and the documentary Nostalgia for the Future — questions remain about Coward’s awards season prospects. The film may be submitted as Belgium’s official entry for the Academy Awards. For Macchia and Campagne, the Cannes triumph opens doors to potentially transformative careers — a remarkable journey from unknowns to Cannes laureates in a single film.