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Coward’s leading actors honoured at Cannes

News 24.05.2026

On the closing night of the Cannes Film Festival, the lead actors in Lukas Dhont’s third feature film, Coward, Emmanuel Macchia and Valentin Campagne, were awarded the Best Actor Award.

With this award, Lukas Dhont has made Flemish film history at Cannes. In 2018, he won the Caméra d’Or there for his feature film debut Girl, and in 2022, its follow-up Close was awarded the Grand Prix.

Still Coward © Thomas Nolf / The Reunion

Coward wins in Cannes

The Screen Flanders-backed feature film Coward premiered in Cannes on Thursday, receiving a long standing ovation and positive reactions from the audience. International film journalists from IndieWire, Deadline, Screen International and The New Yorker wrote favourable reviews, and the Belgian press also responded positively.

In the end, no matter what subject matter he chooses to explore, Lukas Dhont in his brief filmography has proven to be a filmmaker whose eye is on people and what makes us who we are. That is a rare talent, much needed in these daunting times. Coward may be a story taking place in war, but it is set firmly in the human heart.

Pete Hammond Chief Film Critic at Deadline

The day before, director Lukas Dhont had already been awarded the ‘Prix du Cinéma Positif’ at the Cannes Film Festival for his film Coward. This is an award for cinema that inspires hope, resilience and human kindness. He received the award from Jacques Attali, president of the Semaine du cinéma positif, and Estelle Lefébure, patron of the 79th edition of the film festival.

In Coward, Pierre arrives at the front in 1916 as a new recruit, driven to prove himself in battle. He meets Francis, who tries to keep troop morale high with improvised shows. As the war rages relentlessly, they both try to escape reality, if only for a moment.

Coward is a production by the Ghent-based production company The Reunion, in co-production with the Belgian company Versus (Opus), the French company Lumen and the Dutch company Topkapi Films. For his third film, director Lukas Dhont once again surrounded himself with a number of trusted partners. He co-wrote the screenplay with Angelo Tijssens. Frank Van den Eeden once again handled the cinematography, Alain Dessauvage was responsible for the editing, and the music was composed by Valentin Hadjadj, just as it was for Girl and Close.

Just before the start of the Cannes Film Festival, international sales agent The Match Factory was already able to announce that the rights to the film had been sold to Mubi for key territories such as Spain, Italy, Latin America and the United Kingdom.

Distributor Lumière will release the film in cinemas across the Benelux this autumn. In France, the film is being distributed by Diaphana.

Coward was made with the support of the VAF/Film Fund and the Screen Flanders economic fund.