After the success of his first two films, both of which premiered on the Croisette, Academy Award–nominated Lukas Dhont returns with Coward (2026), now playing in competition.
Selected for Cannes’ Main Competition, Coward marks Lukas Dhont’s third straight premiere. The film unfolds as a raw exploration of love, death, and destruction — honoring those sent to fight across history.
As reported in the producers’ synopsis, the movie is based on WWI Pierre, a young Belgian soldier, who grapples with fear and courage amid the turmoil of battle. Beyond the front lines, he meets Francis, whose mission is to lift the spirits of weary troops.
Luke’s debut, Girl (2018), told the story of a 15‑year‑old trans girl chasing her dream of becoming a ballerina. It won the Caméra d’Or for best first feature and the Queer Palm at Cannes.
He made waves with Close (2022), a tender coming‑of‑age drama about the bond between two 13‑year‑old boys, Léo and Rémi. The film earned wide acclaim, winning the Grand Prix at Cannes and later securing an Oscar nomination for Best International Feature Film as Belgium’s entry.
Not limited to directing, Dhont ventured into producing with Julian (2025), a project from The Reunion that triumphed at the 2026 Magritte Awards as Best Flemish Film.
