Radu Jude’s latest film and his first feature film made in French, “Journal d’une femme de chambre” (“Journal of a chambermaid”) was selected in the competition section of the Cannes Film Festival Quinzaine de cinéastes, one of the most important platforms dedicated to auteur cinema.
The film, with Ana Dumitraşcu in the lead role, tells the story of a young woman from Romania who works in a French family and joins an amateur theater troupe preparing an adaptation of the novel “Journalul unei cameriste” written by the French author Octave Mirbeau. The same novel was the basis of a famous screen adaptation by Louis Bunuel from 1964.
The Directors’ Fortnight section, founded by the Society of Film Directors of France, is one of the most important platforms dedicated to auteur cinema within the festival, recognized for its brave selections and the promotion of innovative films, outside the official competition for the Palme d’Or.
His presence in the Directors’ Fortnight 2026 lineup reconfirms Radu Jude’s status as one of the most important contemporary European auteurs and keeps Romanian cinema in the spotlight of major international festivals. Last year Jude won the Silver Bear at the Berlinale for “Kontinental ’25”, and five years ago, the Romanian director won the Golden Bear with “Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn”, and in 2015 he received for “Aferim!” the Silver Bear trophy for the best director.
Also, the latest feature film signed by Cristian Mungiu, “Fjord”, was selected in the official competition of the 79th edition of the Cannes Film Festival (May 12 – 23), where it will compete for the prestigious Palme d’Or trophy.
