The French animated feature Viva Carmen premiered in the Directors' Fortnight section at the Cannes Film Festival, offering a colorful reinterpretation of the classic opera Carmen. Directed by Sébastien Laudenbach, the film emphasizes striking visuals over its source material's music. It follows a new teenage protagonist navigating the story's events in 19th-century Seville.
Sébastien Laudenbach, known for the 2023 film Chicken for Linda!, directed Viva Carmen with a focus on bold colors and fluid animation. The story introduces Salvador, a young orphan voiced by Milo Machado-Graner, who teams up with others to alter the fate of Carmen, played by Camélia Jordana. Supporting voices include Soumaye Bocoum and Carl Malapa.