Full Breakdown
Cannes 2026 Immersive Competition Highlights “The Pirate Queen: No Safe Waters”
4/25/2026, 5:25:54 AM
Core Event: Selection of “The Pirate Queen: No Safe Waters” for Cannes Immersive Competition
The Pirate Queen: No Safe Waters, narrated by Lucy Liu and produced by Eloise Singer’s Singer Studios, has been selected as one of eight entries in the Cannes Film Festival’s third Immersive Competition. The competition lineup was announced on Friday, and the works will be presented from May 12 to 22 in a reconfigured demo space at the Carlton Hotel. The selection positions the work alongside other cutting-edge projects, reinforcing Cannes’ commitment to immersive storytelling.
Background & Context: Historical Pirate Story to Immersive Media
The immersive narrative draws on the true story of Cheng Shih, a 19th-century Chinese woman who commanded the world’s largest pirate fleet. Singer first explored this world in the 2024 virtual-reality experience titled *The Pirate Queen*, which earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Emerging Media Program.
Key Figures & Groups
Key contributors include director-producer Eloise Singer, whose Singer Studios developed the project, and actress Lucy Liu, who provides the narration. The Cannes Film Festival, the organizing body for the Immersive Competition, collaborates with the Carlton Hotel to host the exhibition. Additional participants in the lineup span studios from the United Kingdom, France, Portugal, Italy, Spain, South Korea, and the Philippines.
Timeline of Development and Festival Inclusion
2024 – Singer releases *The Pirate Queen* VR experience, later receiving an Emmy nomination.
2026 – Cannes announces the Immersive Competition lineup on a Friday, confirming the inclusion of *The Pirate Queen: No Safe Waters*. The exhibition runs from May 12 to 22, 2026.
Data & Statistics: Competition Scope and Audience Capacity
The 2026 Immersive Competition features eight works, including *The Pirate Queen: No Safe Waters*. The Carlton Hotel’s demo space has been reconfigured to accommodate between 80 and 225 participants per session. The competition runs for eleven days, from May 12 to 22, allowing audiences to experience each immersive piece.
Why It Matters: Implications for Immersive Storytelling and Historical Representation
The selection underscores Cannes’ commitment to expanding the festival’s scope beyond traditional cinema into immersive media. By foregrounding a historically significant female pirate, the work also contributes to broader representation of women in narrative-driven virtual experiences, potentially influencing future funding and production trends in the sector.
Official Statements & Responses
The Cannes Film Festival announced the Immersive Competition lineup on Friday, noting the inclusion of eight projects that explore diverse storytelling formats, from large-scale video projections to AI-enhanced virtual reality. Festival officials highlighted the competition’s role in showcasing innovative narrative techniques and expanding audience engagement.
What's Next: Competition Schedule and Audience Experience
From May 12 to 22, audiences can experience *The Pirate Queen: No Safe Waters* alongside seven other immersive works in the Carlton Hotel’s newly designed space. The demo space can host between 80 and 225 participants per session, and the competition will conclude on May 22 after the final exhibition sessions.
