'The Piano Accident': Dupieux’s Absurdist Take on Social Media Stars Set for Cannes Market

Paris-based Lucky Number has acquired The Piano Accident, the latest feature film by renowned French filmmaker Quentin Dupieux, whose The Second Act opened the Cannes Film Festival last year. This marks Dupieux’s 14th feature, showcasing his signature blend of absurdist comedy and genre elements. The film features an impressive cast, including Adèle Exarchopoulos, Jérôme Commandeur, Sandrine Kimberlain, and Karim Leklou. It is produced by Hugo Sélignac at Chi-Fou-Mi Productions, part of Mediawan, who previously delivered the highly successful “Beating Hearts,” one of France’s top grossing films of 2024.

The Piano Accident offers a sharp commentary on internet stardom and social media culture. The story follows Magalie, an amoral online influencer who makes her fortune by posting shocking content. After a serious accident during a shoot, she retreats to the mountains with her personal assistant Patrick for a break. However, her world unravels when a journalist with sensitive information begins blackmailing her. True to Dupieux’s style, the film promises a mix of absurd comedy and genre-bending storytelling.

In recent months, Dupieux’s last three films — The Piano Accident, Daaaaaali! and Yannick — have all been released within 18 months and each attracted over 400,000 admissions at the French box office. Lucky Number will launch international sales at the Cannes Film Market with an exclusive promo reel. In France, distributor Diaphana will handle the release, having collaborated with Dupieux on his previous eight films.

Lucky Number expressed their excitement:

“We’re thrilled to bring Dupieux’s latest vision to audiences — a bold and original gem of absurdist storytelling. It’s an honour to host a film that not only entertains but also offers a timely, razor-sharp reflection on the absurdities of internet stardom and the chaos of content consumption in the digital age.”