Andy Garcia’s “Diamond” Premieres at Cannes: A Modern Noir Born After Two Decades

On 19 May 2026, Andy Garcia’s self-written, directed and starring film *Diamond* screened out of competition at the Cannes Film Festival. The 1-hour-58-minute contemporary noir earned a seven-minute standing ovation in the Grand Théâtre Lumière, marking Garcia’s first Cannes appearance since *Ocean’s Thirteen* (2007).

Variety Magazine

Garcia first drafted the story in 2006 while assisting his daughter Daniella with a high-school noir assignment. He preserved the idea for twenty years. After HBO and other networks passed on a pilot script, he expanded it into a feature, financed independently with producers Frank Mancuso Jr., Paul Soriano and Jai Stefan, and completed production without studio backing. At Cannes, Garcia called the screening a “sacred place” and said collaborating with longtime colleagues was “the greatest reward.”

Deadline Hollywood

The ensemble includes Andy Garcia (Joe Diamond), Vicky Krieps, Rosemarie DeWitt, Bill Murray, Dustin Hoffman, Brendan Fraser, Demian Bichir, Danny Huston, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Yul Vazquez, Robert Patrick and Rachel Ticotin. Garcia co-composed the score with Arturo Sandoval. Production design was by Clay A. Griffith, cinematography by Tim Suhrstedt and costumes by Deborah L. Scott. The film was shot in 52 Los Angeles locations—including the Bradbury Building, Paramour Estate, Angels Flight, Chinatown and the former Cole’s restaurant—over 25 days on a modest indie budget.

Deadline Hollywood

Variety called the film a “love letter to Los Angeles” and an homage to classic noir. TheWrap praised its modern humor but noted that the Waymo gag may not resonate with French audiences and described the plot as occasionally clunky.

The Wrap

Critics argue the film leans heavily on noir conventions, leading to uneven pacing and a storyline that can feel “clunky.” The Waymo joke, intended as a contemporary contrast, may not translate across cultural contexts, limiting broader appeal.

The Wrap

• “I started to pitch an idea about doing a series to HBO and other networks. They all said it’s very interesting, but it wasn’t written, so I just challenged myself and started writing,” — Andy Garcia, Director

Deadline Hollywood

• “The greatest reward that anyone could have as a director is to have colleagues like Dustin and Bill, and Yul Vazquez, and LaTanya Richardson, and Brendan Fraser, and Demián Bichir, and Rachel Ticotin. They come and bless your movie. That is one’s greatest reward, when people you admire, you look up to, you’re inspired by, trust you, and want to play in your world for a little bit. And without their support and without their inspiration, this would not be the film that it is.” — Andy Garcia, Director

Variety Magazine

• “And I couldn’t think of a more sacred place than to be here — the place where film noir was first coined — to share this very personal journey with the festival community.” — Andy Garcia, Director

Variety Magazine

• “It's the greatest gift in the world to celebrate your child's achievement.” — Andy Garcia, Director

Reuters