Armenia named country of honor for 2027 Cannes Film Festival Critics’ Week initiative

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

Within the framework of the program, four Armenian and four international directors will collaborate in Armenia to produce four short films, which will later be presented at Cannes, the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport said in a statement.

With Armenia named the country in focus at the event, Armenian participants will also have the opportunity to pitch their upcoming feature-length projects to representatives of the international film industry. The initiative is considered an important step toward increasing the international visibility of Armenian cinema, expanding cooperation, and strengthening cultural diplomacy.

The announcement was made during the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, which was attended by Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of Armenia Daniel Danielyan.

“Armenia is represented at Cannes with dignity. Following the inclusion of five films by the great master of Armenian cinema Artavazd Peleshyan in the Cannes Classics program, this new announcement carries a deeply symbolic, even historic significance for us,” Danielyan said, emphasizing the unique role of Critics’ Week in world cinema, particularly in nurturing and discovering new talent.