Cannes Critics’ Week is highlighting 10 filmmakers – and their 10 projects – during the 12 th edition of the Next Step workshop, which comes to a climax with an Industry Day in Paris where cineastes meet with French industry members. This prestigious initiative focuses on the feature debuts of directors who have previously showcased their short films at Critics’ Week.

Running Dec. 6-12, this year’s Next Step will see directors competing for a newly labelled award, the Next Step Sooner Prize, adjudicated by the new French streaming platform focusing on movies created from the merger of the Filmo and Universciné platforms and launching Jan. 2026.

The Next Step Sooner Prize will take in a €2,500 ($2,925) grant and an invitation to the Cannes Film Festival. The winner will be announced

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