Shana + Q&A

Twenty-something Shana (Eva Huault) is impossible to ignore. A young Parisian woman of Jewish and Arab descent, she has a strong personality and never hesitates to speak her mind, often finding herself at the centre of conflict. But when her drug-dealing boyfriend, Moses (Sékouba Doucouré), is released from prison, Shana's confidence suddenly begins to falter. Desperate for money, she finds unexpected support in a ring inherited from her grandmother, especially as the return of her abusive partner seems to bring an unrelenting streak of bad luck.

Premiering at Cannes, Lila Pinell's feature debut is a sensitive and incisive portrait of a social milieu shaped by men and rigid conventions, as well as a vibrant, nuanced character study of an independent young woman who is still searching for herself. Alongside the lead actress's unforgettable performance, the film draws much of its strength from its vivid portrayal of female friendship and its self-aware, sharply political sense of humour.

Q&A with director Lila Pinell after the screening.

Cannes Film Festival 2026 – Directors' Fortnight

French director and screenwriter Lila Pinell studied philosophy before completing a Master's degree in documentary filmmaking in Lussas. Her first film, Nous arrivons, explores the everyday life of a self-managed children's summer camp. It was during that production that she met Eva Huault, who would later star in Le Roi David (winner of the Clermont-Ferrand Grand Prix and the Jean Vigo Award) before taking on the title role in Shana. Pinell also co-directed Kiss and Cry with Chloé Mahieu.

King David (2021)

Original title: Shana
Director: Lila Pinell
Cast: Eva Huault, Noémie Lvovsky, Inès Gherib, Anaïs Monah, Bettina de Van, Sékouba Doucouré, Solal Bouloudnine
Cinematography: Victor Zébo
Screenwriter: Lila Pinell
Producers: Emmanuel Chaumet, Charles Gillibert
Editors: Jean-Christophe Hym, Emma Augier
Music: –
Hungarian distributor: –
Colour: Colour
Run Time: 83 mins