'Coward' by Lukas Dhont selected for Oscars

Coward, which has won an award at the Cannes Film Festival, follows young soldiers trying to keep up their morale in the trenches during the First World War. It's the third time this honour falls in the hands of Lukas Dhont, after Girl in 2018 and Close in 2022, with the latter also securing the nomination. Whether Coward will be officially nominated remains to be seen. 

1917. As the First World War drags on, Pierre (the acting debut of Emmanuel Macchia), a soldier newly arrived at the front, is eager to prove himself. Behind the lines, he meets Francis (Valentin Campagne), who decides to lift the spirits of his comrades by putting together a theatre show. While the violence continues, both men try to find ways to escape the brutality of war, even if only for a moment.

The film stands out in particular for the vulnerable yet poignant performances by Macchia and Campagne. The chemistry between the two main characters is undeniable, giving the film a lighter, more tender tone than we are used to from classic war films. They were jointly awarded the prestigious Best Actor prize at Cannes.

On Wednesday 7 October, Coward will officially kick off Film Fest Gent 2026. The full programme will be announced on Thursday 17 September, so make sure to keep an eye on our channels!