French actress Eye Haïdara has been selected to host the opening and closing ceremonies of the 79th edition of the Cannes Film Festival, organisers confirmed on Wednesday.
The 43-year-old performer will lead proceedings on May 12 and May 23, succeeding Laurent Laffite in the prestigious role of master of ceremonies. The announcement was made jointly by France Télévisions and Brut.
Haïdara gained widespread recognition for her role in the hit comedy The Sense of Wonder, directed by Éric Toledano and Olivier Nakache, where she starred alongside Jean-Pierre Bacri. Her performance earned her a César Award nomination for Most Promising Actress in 2018.
Beginning her career in theatre, Haïdara performed at the renowned Avignon Festival before transitioning to film. She has since collaborated with notable filmmakers including Cédric Klapisch, Michel Hazanavicius, and Lisa Azuelos.
Her recent work includes roles in Les Femmes du square (2022) and La Maison des femmes, with upcoming projects such as Mata by Rachel Lang and L’Objet du délit by Agnès Jaoui.
This year’s festival will be presided over by acclaimed South Korean director Park Chan-wook. Organisers have also announced honorary Palme d’Or awards for The Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson and American singer-actress Barbra Streisand.
The official film selection for Cannes 2026 is expected to be unveiled on April 9.
