Six New Filmmakers at the Residency of the Festival de Cannes

Alica Bednáriková, Federico Luis, Maksym Nakonechnyi, Laís Santos Araújo, Baran Sarmad, and Dian Weys have joined the 50th Residency of the Festival de Cannes. From October 1, 2025, to February 15, 2026, they are staying in Paris and receiving guidance in writing their first or second feature film.

MAKSYM NAKONECHNYI

“To me, taking part in La Résidence means receiving the opportunity to concentrate on my project in safety. I do plan to finalize the script and to have it ready for the production period. In the circumstances of wartime, when Ukrainian filmmakers lack funding, fellow professionals, sustainability and security, it is a rare opportunity which can bring my next movie closer to the screen. Also it will definitely elevate my story to an international level, saving its authenticity nevertheless.”

Maksym Nakonechnyi holds a bachelor’s degree in directing from Karpenko-Kary Kyiv National University of Theater, Cinema and Television. After working on several TV projects, he teamed up with a group of fellow creators to form the independent production company Tabor, which now creates documentaries, fiction films, plays, commercial and social videos, and cultural volunteering projects. Maksym has completed several fiction shorts as a director and regularly produces documentary films. His most prominent awards include the 2020 IDFA award for Best First Appearance for This Rain Will Never Stop and the 67th Berlinale’s Generation 14plus Grand Prix for School #3. Maksym’s feature film directorial debut Butterfly Vision was selected by the Un Certain Regard section in Cannes in 2022.

BARAN SARMAD

“I grew up in a society where, as a little girl, saying you wanted to take on a leadership role, like becoming a ship captain, an airline pilot, or a judge, was met with disbelief. Filmmaking was one of those daring dreams too, a path full of obstacles and restrictions. Today, being part of the Cannes Residency gives me deep belief and confidence. It’s proof that I’m on the right path and must keep going despite the challenges. This Residency is a creative sanctuary where I can rewrite my script, gain inspiration through mentorship, and share this journey with five other writers from around the world.”

Baran Sarmad is an Iranian filmmaker and producer known for her distinctive cinematic identity, often mixing reality and fantasy and exploring complex emotional landscapes. She directed the short film Must Black (2014) before studying dramatic literature at Soureh University of Arts in Tehran. During her undergraduate years, she co-founded an independent film studio with Mohammad Reza Meyghani, producing their first film, Dar (2015), followed by Cleaner (2018). Baran’s first professional short film, Spotted Yellow (2019), premiered at the Locarno Film Festival and was screened at numerous prestigious international festivals. In 2020, she was the producer and production designer of Orthodontics, a short film nominated for the Palme d’Or. Currently, Baran is developing her debut feature film, Mellow Pink.

LAÍS SANTOS ARAÚJO

“To put my writing in the center of my days is a privilege that I have been dreaming of for a while, and I’m very grateful to La Résidence for making it a reality. It’s even more special to think that I will be doing so in Paris, surrounded by other artists, and with so much support from Cannes. My wish is to use the time I’m being provided with to really delve into, refine, and rediscover my story, and to have a beautiful new script by the end of the program as well as a collection of new stories from my days as a resident.”

Laís Santos Araújo is a film director, screenwriter and founder of the production company Aguda Cinema. She was born in Maceió, Northeastern Brazil, in 1993. Her work focuses on narrative tales with morally ambiguous characters, exploring womanhood and violence. Her first short film, Como ficamos da mesma altura (2019), premiered at Rotterdam’s IFFR. Her short Infantaria was awarded the Generation 14plus Special Prize for Best Short Film at the 73rd Berlinale, screened at over 70 festivals and selected for the Brazilian Grand Prix of Cinema. Her first feature, a co-direction with Pethrus Tibúrcio, Marina, selected by the Hubert Bals Fund, was shot in 2025, and is now in post-production. Currently, Laís is developing the feature film Infantaria, a project supported by initiatives like La Fabrique Cinéma, CineLatino Toulouse, BrLab and CineMundi.

FEDERICO LUIS

“There will be huge space to dream in La Residence. I expect we will all find a routine, to dream with discipline; to be able to do nothing but write, write, write, read, read and read. Winter will surely help.”

Federico Luis was born in Buenos Aires in 1990. He holds a degree in Social Communication Sciences from UBA (University of Buenos Aires). His first feature film, Simón de la Montaña, won the Grand Prix of La Semaine de la Critique in Cannes in 2024. In 2023, he received the Best Short Film award at IDFA in Amsterdam for En El Mismísimo Momento. His short film La Siesta had its international premiere in the Official Competition at Cannes 2019, won Best Short Film at BAFICI, and received an honorable mention at TIFF. His next feature, The Dog Trainer, was selected at the Film Academy of Spain, TorinoFilmLab, Oxbelly Retreat and is currently in development at La Résidence du Festival de Cannes.

ALICA BEDNÁRIKOVÁ

“Being part of La Résidence means a great deal of support for my project at a crucial early stage of development. It is a valuable encouragement that this story matters and is worth telling. To be able to pause and fully dedicate myself to writing for more than four months is a rare privilege for any filmmaker, and one that carries even greater meaning given the history of the program. I feel very honored to take part in it.”

Alica Bednáriková is a Slovak filmmaker currently based in Prague. She holds a BA in fiction directing from the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava, and is completing her MA in directing at FAMU. Her film Boredom (2020) was screened at EnergaCAMERIMAGE and received the Ján Fajnor award at the IGRIC national competition in 2021. Her next short, Liquid Bread (2021), was selected for La Cinef in Cannes, Future Frames at Kalovy Vary, and Clermont-Ferrand, and was a semi-finalist at the Student Academy Awards. Alica is an alumna of Les Arcs Talent Village. After completing a short version of her feature debut Attention Whores as her FAMU graduation project, she is now developing the film at La Résidence du Festival de Cannes.

DIAN WEYS

“I am incredibly excited to be a part of the 50th edition of La Résidence. To live in Paris for four-and-a half months, dedicated to writing my first feature film and surrounded by like-minded cinema-lovers, is nothing short of a dream. I am eager to dive into my screenplay, to watch and discuss a lot of films, and to form lasting friendships.”

Filmmaker Dian Weys was born in South Africa in 1991. He holds an MA in Film Studies cum laude from the University of Cape Town and is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Groningen (Netherlands). His first three short films screened at over a hundred international film festivals, including Clermont-Ferrand, Palm Springs ShortFest, Message to Man, Tampere, and ZINEBI Bilbao. Bergie (2022) won Tanit d’Argent for Best Short Film at the Carthage Film Festival. His latest short film, Vultures (2025), was selected in the Official Short Film Competition at the 78th Festival du Film de Cannes, where it won the Unifrance Short Film Grand Prix.