The Electric Kiss
2026 film by Pierre Salvadori
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The Electric Kiss (French: La Vénus électrique, lit. 'The Electric Venus') is an upcoming 2026 period romantic comedy-drama film directed by Pierre Salvadori, from a screenplay he co-wrote with Benjamin Charbit and Benoît Graffin and based on an original idea by Rebecca Zlotowski and Robin Campillo. It stars Pio Marmaï, Anaïs Demoustier, Gilles Lellouche, and Vimala Pons. The plot follows a young grieving painter who tries to contact his dead wife through a psychic after losing his inspiration to work.[1]
- Pierre Salvadori
- Benjamin Charbit
- Benoît Graffin
| The Electric Kiss | |
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| French | La Vénus électrique |
| Directed by | Pierre Salvadori |
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| Story by | |
| Produced by | Philippe Martin |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Julien Poupard |
| Edited by | Anne-Sophie Bion |
| Music by | Camille Bazbaz |
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| Distributed by |
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Release dates |
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| Language | French |
The film will have its world premiere as the opening film of the 2026 Cannes Film Festival on 12 May and will be released theatrically in France on the same day by Diaphana Distribution.[2]
Plot
In Paris, 1928, young painter Antoine Balestro mourns the death of his wife Irène, which he blames himself for and which has caused him to lose his motivation to paint. Having turned to alcohol, he attempts to contact his wife through a psychic one night. A young carnival worker named Suzanne, who has only snuck into the trailer to steal food, pretends to be a clairvoyant for Antoine. Antoine's art dealer, Armand, is desperate to have his client continue painting so he convinces Suzanne to keep up the act in exchange for paying her debts. She begins staging improvised séances for Antoine where she pretends to channel Irène. As Antoine gradually improves, Suzanne finds herself falling in love with the man she is manipulating.
Cast
- Pio Marmaï as Antoine Balestro
- Anaïs Demoustier as Suzanne
- Gilles Lellouche as Armand
- Vimala Pons as Irène
- Gustave Kervern
- Madeleine Baudot
Production
Salvadori wrote the film's screenplay with Benjamin Charbit and Benoît Graffin based on an original idea by Rebecca Zlotowski and Robin Campillo.[1] The film was produced by Philippe Martin for Les Films Pelléas, in co-production with Versus, France 2 Cinéma, Pio & Co, Tovo Films, RTBF, BeTV, Orange, Proximus.[2]
Principal photography began on 26 May 2025. Shooting was scheduled to last ten weeks, taking place in Belgium (in Liège and the surrounding area), Paris and the Île-de-France region, and expected to continue until 1 August 2025.[3]
Release
The Electric Kiss was selected to be the opening film at the 79th Cannes Film Festival, where it will have its world premiere out-of-competition on 12 May 2026. It will be released theatrically in France on the same day by Diaphana Distribution.[2] O'Brother Distribution is set to distribute the film in Belgium.[4]
In January 2026, Goodfellas acquired international sales for the film, then titled Venus Electrificata, and presented the film for distributors during the 28th Unifrance Rendez-Vous in Paris later that same month.[5]
