At the Festival de Cannes, Kering reaffirms its commitment to women in cinema
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May 27, 2026
At the Festival de Cannes, Kering reaffirms its commitment to women in cinema
For the eleventh consecutive year, Kering took part in the Festival de Cannes with a rich lineup of events, conversations, and celebrations. Through its Women In Motion program, the Group once again placed the celebration of creativity and the representation of women in cinema at the heart of the world’s most prestigious film gathering.
Women In Motion: eleven years of continued commitment to female talent
Launched in 2015 in partnership with the Festival de Cannes, Women In Motion was conceived to address a persistent imbalance: the under-representation of women in filmmaking, both in front of and behind the camera. Over the past decade, the program has grown into a recognized platform within the international film community, combining Awards that honor established and emerging talent, Talks that foster dialogue on gender equality in the arts, and moments of exchange that bring together the creative industries.
This year, from May 12 to 23, the 79th edition of the Festival provided the backdrop for a series of events that continued to build on this founding mission.
Women In Motion by Kering | Highlights from the 79th Cannes Film Festival
Talks that foster conversation
A cornerstone of the Women In Motion program, the Talks once again offered a platform for artists and creators to discuss representation, equality, and the evolving place of women in cinema and culture. This year’s edition welcomed renowned personalities from different corners of the industry: actress and comedian Hannah Einbinder, actress Jordana Brewster, actress and author Julianne Moore, actress and director Geraldine Nakache, and a joint conversation between actor Rami Malek and director Ira Sachs.
Each session provided an opportunity for candid reflection on individual journeys, creative processes, and the systemic challenges that persist across the film industry. The format, intimate and unrehearsed, has become a fixture of the Festival and a space where meaningful exchanges unfold beyond the red carpet.
The Women In Motion Dinner: an evening celebrating women’s contributions to film
On Sunday, May 17, the Women In Motion Dinner and Awards Ceremony stood as one of the defining moments of this edition. Gathering leading figures from cinema, fashion, music, and culture, the evening celebrated the achievements of women whose work has shaped contemporary film.
The 2026 Women In Motion Award was presented to Julianne Moore by François-Henri Pinault, Chairman of Kering, alongside Iris Knobloch and Thierry Frémaux, respectively President and General Delegate of the Festival de Cannes. Moore, whose career spans more than seventy films and encompasses top honors at Berlin, Venice, and Cannes, delivered a speech that resonated deeply with the audience – a declaration of love for women, for actresses, female directors and writers, and for stories told from a female perspective.
The Emerging Talent Award, accompanied by financial support, was presented to Margherita Spampinato, an Italian director, screenwriter, and editor whose debut feature Gioia Mia has earned recognition at more than twenty international festivals since its premiere at the 78th Locarno Film Festival.
The dinner once again showcased standout red carpet fashion moments, with ambassadors, celebrities, and key guests wearing creations from the Kering Houses. Among the guests, Salma Hayek wore a striking white feathered Gucci gown and Boucheron jewelry, Demi Moore stepped out in a spectacular Boucheron necklace, Isabelle Huppert stood out in Balenciaga and Julianne Moore opted for white in Bottega Veneta.
A private party for dialogue and discovery
Beyond the formal ceremonies, a few days after the opening of the Festival, the Women In Motion Private Party brought together new voices, clients, and key personalities from cinema, fashion, and digital culture for an intimate evening. Designed to foster conversations around the representation of women in the industry, the event featured a private performance by Naika, whose live concert created an atmosphere at once vibrant and intimate.
On May 20, at the Carlton, a dedicated dinner hosted by Paola Locatelli and sponsored by the Kering program gathered personalities from cinema, music, and the creative industries around these same themes, in a more intimate setting.
The Croisette dressed by the Kering Houses
The Festival de Cannes remains a stage where fashion and cinema converge. Throughout the event, ambassadors and key cultural figures appeared on the famous “montée des marches”, wearing creations from the Kering Houses, reinforcing the close connection between their artistic expression and the world of film.
Notable appearances included Pierre Niney in Balenciaga and Boucheron, Charlotte Cardin in Saint Laurent, Yoona Lim in Qeelin, Hande Erçel in Pomellato, and Daisy Edgar-Jones in Balenciaga and Boucheron. Each look contributed to a visual narrative that extends beyond fashion – one in which cinema, craftsmanship, and creativity meet.
A long-term cultural engagement
Beyond the spectacle of the Croisette, the presence of Kering at Cannes reflects a deeper conviction: that the luxury sector can play a meaningful role in supporting the conditions under which stories are made, financed, and remembered. Women In Motion is an ongoing effort – one that has now recognized eighteen major figures through its Awards, supported twenty-four emerging talents, and hosted more than one hundred Talks across three continents.
As the lights dim on this edition, the questions raised during these eleven days endure. Visibility matters, but access, authorship, and decision-making power are what turn recognition into lasting change. That is the ambition Kering continues to carry forward.
