Rami Malek and director Ira Sachs are taking their latest collaboration to the Cannes Film Festival, where “The Man I Love” will compete for the Palme d’Or in 2026.
The film marks a significant moment for American cinema at the prestigious festival—it’s the sole U.S. feature in the main competition this year. Set against the backdrop of late-1980s New York, the story follows Jimmy George, a downtown performance artist grappling with illness, desire, and artistic survival in an era marked by tremendous loss.
Malek shares the screen with an ensemble cast including Tom Sturridge, Rebecca Hall, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Luther Ford. Sachs, working alongside longtime collaborator Mauricio Zacharias, has crafted what early reports describe as a musical fantasy with considerable emotional weight—a film that captures moments where love and beauty still feel possible even in dark times.
The project has already generated considerable industry buzz since production company MK2 Films came on board. The film’s Cannes selection underscores its prestige positioning and the growing international attention surrounding the production, which explores LGBTQ themes through a decidedly artistic lens.
The 2026 Cannes Film Festival will mark the film’s world premiere.
