The Association for the Diffusion of Independent Cinema (ACID) has opened submissions for its 34th edition, which will run from May 13 to 22 as part of the Cannes Film Festival. Regarded as one of the festival’s three parallel sections, alongside the Directors’ Fortnight and Critics’ Week, ACID will accept feature films from around the world until March 12.

Organizers emphasize that selecting a film entails a commitment that goes beyond its screening on the Croisette. “Choosing a film for our Cannes programme represents a strong commitment for us: to support the film and its director or directors throughout its life in cinemas and festivals, both in France and internationally. The idea is that if we have felt such a powerful desire to programme these nine films, that desire will be passed on to those who discover them after us. There is nothing more contagious than enthusiasm,” the Association for the Diffusion of Independent Cinema, which organizes the selection, stated.

Submitted works must have been produced after May 1, 2025, and must not have previously premiered in France or screened at festivals such as Locarno, Venice, Toronto, San Sebastián, or Berlin. Full participation guidelines are available on ACID’s official website, while the submission fee ranges from €35 to €90 (excluding taxes), depending on the date of application.

In the 2025 edition, the region was represented through two minority participations. One was the U.S.–Argentina co-production Drunken Noodle, directed by Lucio Castro, a filmmaker known for After This Death and End of the Century. The other was La couleuvre noire by Aurélien Vernhes-Lermusiaux, a production by France’s Dublin Films in co-production with Colombia’s Burning and Brazil’s Vulcana Cinema.