Armenia to Present 4 New Films at Cannes in 2027

In 2027, Armenia will become the honorary country of the “Next Step Studio” initiative, implemented within the framework of the “Critics’ Week” (La Semaine de la Critique) program at the 80th Cannes Film Festival. This will create an important opportunity for the international promotion of Armenian cinema and the advancement of young filmmakers.

As part of the program, 4 Armenian and 4 foreign directors will collaborate in Armenia to create 4 short films, which will later be presented at Cannes. Armenian participants will also have the opportunity to present their future feature-length projects to representatives of the international film industry.

This is considered an important step toward increasing the international visibility of Armenian cinema, developing collaborations, and strengthening cultural diplomacy.

The announcement was made at the Cannes Film Festival. Armenia’s Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, Daniel Danielyan, attended the event.

“Armenia is represented at Cannes with dignity. Following the inclusion of five films by the great Armenian cinema master Artavazd Peleshyan in the Cannes Classics program, this new announcement carries deeply symbolic—even historic—significance for us,” said Daniel Danielyan in his welcoming speech, emphasizing the exceptional role of Cannes Critics’ Week in world cinema, as well as in educating and discovering new talent.

“For decades, this iconic institution of the Cannes Film Festival has discovered new voices, guided young creators, and introduced bold and original human perspectives to the world. Critics’ Week is not only a platform for artistic discoveries; it has long become a true international laboratory of cinematic vision.

For Armenia, becoming part of this vision is a tremendous honor. This invitation means more to our country than cultural cooperation—it opens a new chapter in the field of cinema.

For decades, Armenia has lived under the burden of wars, closed borders, and isolation. For a long time, we were forced simply to survive, without being able to fully dream. Yet even in the most difficult times, our people never stopped creating. We continued to write, sing, film, and pass on values, because culture has never been a luxury for us—it has been a means of staying strong.

For the past nine months, peace has been restored in our region. Though still fragile, it exists. Alongside it emerges a new historic opportunity: a path toward Europe, toward a free, democratic, and creative world; toward collaboration among new generations and toward exchange.

And at this crucial moment, we want to tell our stories to the world, because we have something to say. These are stories of resilience and dignity, but also of love, light, hope, and faith in the future. We want to share our unique perspective on universal themes such as memory, family, peace, freedom, and human identity.

But we also want to tell these stories differently—through the language of cinema, using the tools and technologies of contemporary filmmaking.

Our youth possess talent, creative potential, sensitivity, and the will to undertake new initiatives. However, young people also need exchanges, international cooperation, and access to advanced experience. And this is exactly what ‘Next Step Studio’ symbolizes: a bridge between cultures, generations, and imaginations.

We want to learn from the world, but we also deeply believe that we have something to offer the world—our sensitivity and our thousand-year-old culture, our artistic vision shaped by history yet directed toward the future,” Daniel Danielyan stated, thanking the leadership and partners of Critics’ Week for their trust.

“Next Step Studio” is one of the ongoing international initiatives of the Cannes Film Festival’s Critics’ Week program. It supports the new generation of filmmakers through creative development, international mentorship, and building connections with the film industry.

In 2027, Armenia will be at the center of this program’s attention. This is an important opportunity for Armenian cinema to present the country’s contemporary cinematic potential, young directors, and readiness for international cooperation on the prestigious Cannes platform.

The program plans to select 8 directors—4 from Armenia and 4 from different countries. They will work in pairs, with one Armenian and one foreign director collaborating to create 4 short films in Armenia.

Importantly, the films will be created within the Armenian environment, inspired by the country’s culture, reality, and human stories.

The program will include script development, collaboration with international specialists, production preparation, filming in Armenia, post-production, and the presentation of the films at Cannes as part of Critics’ Week (La Semaine de la Critique / Cannes Critics’ Week).