Directors' Fortnight

The Directors' Fortnight (French: Quinzaine des cinéastes, formerly Quinzaine des réalisateurs) is an independent section held in parallel to the Cannes Film Festival. It was started in 1969 by the French Directors Guild after the events of May 1968 resulted in cancellation of the Cannes festival as an act of solidarity with striking workers.

The Directors' Fortnight showcases a programme of shorts and feature films and documentaries worldwide.

Programming is overseen by an artistic director. The current artistic director is Julien Rejl who has programmed Director's Fortnight since 2023.

Past artistic directors include Pierre-Henri Deleau [fr] (1969–1999), Marie-Pierre Macia [fr] (1999-2003), Olivier Père (2004–2009), Frédéric Boyer (2009–2011), Édouard Waintrop [fr] (2012–2018) and Paolo Moretti [fr] (2018-2022).

In partnership with The Fondation Chantal Akerman, for the first time ever, the audience will award one of the films in the main selection with the "Audience Award" or "Choix du Public". It's the first ever official award presented by the section, since its creation in 1969:

The award was created in 2003, and highlights European productions screened at the Directors Fortnight section:

• Art Cinema Award
• SACD Prize
• Illy Prize

• Critics' Week
• ACID

• Pierre-Henri Deleau: La Quinzaine des réalisateurs à Cannes: Cinéma en liberté : 1969-1993 (Broché), Editions de La Martinière, 1993
• Olivier Thévenin: Sociologie d'une institution cinématographique : La S.R.F. et la Quinzaine des réalisateurs (Broché), Paris: l'Harmattan, 2009,ISBN 2-296-09457-0

• 40x15.Les Quarante Ans de la Quinzaine des Réalisateurs, directed by Olivier Jahan, 97 min, 2008 details

• Directors' Fortnight official website
• Scott Foundas - A Brief History of the Directors' Fortnight