The 49th Cannes Film Festival took place from 9 to 20 May 1996.

[2][3] American filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola served as jury president for the main competition.

Sabine Azéma hosted the opening and closing ceremonies.

[3] British filmmaker Mike Leigh won the Palme d'Or, the festival's top prize, for the drama film Secrets & Lies.

[4][5] The festival opened with Ridicule by Patrice Leconte,[6][7][8] and closed with Flirting with Disaster by David O.