The Birthday Party

The Birthday Party (original French title: Histoires de la Nuit) is a 2026 French drama film written and directed by Léa Mysius, adapted from Laurent Mauvignier's novel of the same name published in 2020. Nora, Thomas and their daughter Ida live on an isolated farm, with the Italian painter Cristina as their only neighbour. While everyone prepares a surprise birthday party for Nora, three men begin prowling around the house and crash the celebration uninvited, bringing long-buried secrets to the surface and plunging the family into turmoil.

The cast includes Hafsia Herzi, Benoît Magimel, Bastien Bouillon and Monica Bellucci. Filming began in June 2025 in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. The film premiered in the main competition of the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, where it contended for the Palme d'Or, and is scheduled for release in France in September 2026 through distributor Le Pacte.