Oscar-winner Javier Bardem returned to the Cannes Film Festival on Saturday (May 16) to premiere his fourth competition entry "The Beloved" at the cinema showcase.

The film is directed by critically acclaimed director Rodrigo Sorogoyen and stars Spanish actress Victoria Luengo opposite Bardem.

Bardem's previous Cannes competition films include Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's "Biutiful", Asghar Farhadi's "Everybody Knows" and Sean Penn's "The Last Face".

"The Beloved" is set in the world of filmmaking and explores a father-daughter relationship.

Bardem plays internationally celebrated Spanish director, Esteban Martinez, with a turbulent past, who casts his estranged daughter Emilia, played by Luengo, in his new movie. The project brings the two together and also opens old wounds.

“The Beloved” is one of 22 titles vying for the Cannes festival's top Palme d'Or prize, which will be handed out on May 23.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

CANNES, FRANCE (MAY 16, 2026) (REUTERS – Access All)

1. VARIOUS OF "THE BELOVED" FILM TEAM ON RED CARPET (SCREEN LEFT TO RIGHT) PRODUCER EDUARDO VILLANUEVA, ACTOR RAUL AREVALO, SCREENWRITER ISABEL PENA, ACTORS JAVIER BARDEM, VICTORIA LUENGO, DIRECTOR RODRIGO SOROGOYEN AND ACTORS MARINA FOIS AND PRODUCER NACHO LAVILLA

2. PHOTOGRAPHERS

3. BARDEM POSING FOR PHOTOS

4. VARIOUS OF BARDEM WAVING AS HE POSES WITH FILM TEAM

5. BARDEM, LUENGO AND SOROGOYEN

6. PHOTOGRAPHERS

7. FILM TEAM ON TOP OF RED CARPET STEPS, BARDEM BLOWING KISSES

8. CROWDS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS BY RED CARPET

9. FILM TEAM SINGING AND DANCING TO MUSIC AND WAVING TO CROWD