Right from its debut in 1969, the Directors’ Fortnight, organized during the Cannes Film Festival by the Société des Réalisateurs de Films (French Directors’ Society), has aimed to support filmmakers and encourage the exposure of new talent to audiences and film critics alike.

Over the years, the Directors’ Fortnight has discovered and showcased in France debut films by directors such as Werner Herzog, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Nagisa Oshima, George Lucas, Martin Scorsese, Jim Jarmush, Michael Haneke, Spike Lee, the Dardenne brothers, Sofia Coppola, and many others. Its most famous guests have included Robert Bresson, Manoel de Oliveira, and Stephen Frears.

Among the various film selections presented at Cannes, the Directors’ Fortnight stands out by its emphasis on freedom of expression, its non-competitive commitment, and its receptivity to non-professional spectators by offering a system of subscriptions and single ticket sales.