On Friday evening, within the vibrant framework of the 9th edition of CANNESERIES (April 23–28), Le Rouge et le Noir was presented during a special Rendez-Vous event that offered a first, carefully curated encounter with the series ahead of its official public screening scheduled for Monday, April 27.

Held at the Auditorium Jean Mineur inside the Palais des Festivals, the event followed the established format of the Rendez-Vous selection: a preview screening of one episode accompanied by a conversation with the creative team and cast, designed to bring audiences closer to the artistic process behind the series. The adaptation, based on Stendhal’s classic novel, is a French four-part miniseries created by Georges-Marc Benamou and directed by Gaël Morel, produced for France Télévisions.

Friday’s session offered a first look at the first episode, confirming the project’s ambition to revisit a literary monument through a contemporary serial format. The screening was followed by a discussion featuring key members of the production, including director Gaël Morel, writer-producer Georges-Marc Benamou, and actors Victor Belmondo and Emily in Paris star Camille Razat. The atmosphere in the room reflected the essence of the Rendez-Vous strand itself, an initiative within Canneseries conceived as a space for dialogue and direct engagement between creators and audiences, where screenings are paired with in-depth conversations and insights into storytelling processes.

From what emerged during the discussion, the adaptation positions itself as both faithful and interpretative: rooted in the psychological and social tensions of the original novel, yet shaped for a contemporary television audience. The creative team emphasized the importance of character interiority and moral ambiguity, central elements in Stendhal’s work, while also acknowledging the need to translate them into a visual and narrative language suited to modern viewers. The casting, led by Victor Belmondo as Julien Sorel, alongside Virginie Ledoyen and Camille Razat, signals a blend of heritage and renewal, aligning with the broader editorial direction of the festival, which continues to spotlight projects capable of bridging classic material and present-day sensibilities.

As part of the Official Selection, Le Rouge et le Noir stands among a curated group of series presented through screenings and live exchanges, reinforcing the festival’s role as a global meeting point for television storytelling. If Friday’s preview offered only a partial vision, it nonetheless set the tone: a measured, dialogue-driven unveiling rather than a full critical exposure. The real test will come with the official screening on April 27, when audiences will be able to assess more episodes.

For now, the Rendez-Vous has fulfilled its purpose introducing Le Rouge et le Noir not simply as an adaptation, but as a project shaped through conversation, both on and off screen.