Zoe Saldaña's Husband Marco Perego Makes Cannes History With Major Producing Milestone

Marco Perego may be widely known as Zoe Saldaña's husband, but the Italian artist is stepping into a new spotlight at Cannes after reaching a rare milestone as a film producer.

Marco Perego, who has been married to Oscar-winning actress Zoe Saldaña since 2013, made history at this year's Cannes Film Festival as the first producer to have three movies in the main competition.

The milestone marks a striking new chapter for the conceptual artist, who recently launched Leaf Entertainment with Michael Cerenzie after making his feature directorial debut with "The Absence of Eden" in 2023.

Marco Perego Steps Into a New Spotlight

Perego may be familiar to many fans because of his marriage to Saldaña, but the Italian native has spent years building a creative identity of his own. A former soccer player and painter, Perego grew up surrounded by world cinema and has said he tends to watch a movie every day.

His move into producing has now brought him to one of the biggest stages in international film. At Cannes, Perego is attached to three main competition titles: "Minotaur," "Fjord," and "Paper Tiger."

The slate is notable not only for its size but also for the filmmakers and stars involved. "Minotaur" marks the first film in nine years from Russian director Andrey Zvyagintsev, while "Fjord" is a Sebastian Stan-led drama from Romanian filmmaker Cristian Mungiu.

"Paper Tiger," from James Gray, stars Scarlett Johansson, Adam Driver, and Miles Teller. Perego is also behind "Butterfly Jam," from Kantemir Balagov, which screened in the Directors' Fortnight section. The movie stars Barry Keoghan, Riley Keough, and Harry Melling.

A Company Built Around Auteurs

Perego launched Leaf Entertainment with Cerenzie with a clear goal: to support major global filmmakers and help bring their next projects to life. He acknowledged that he is new to producing but said his approach comes from a deep respect for artists, stating:

"My ultimate goal is to build this idea of a company of artists. I feel very lucky to give these directors a voice."

Perego explained that his love of film began in childhood in Italy, where his parents exposed him to movies from around the world. That early connection shaped how he viewed cinema as both art and commentary.

"I was very curious — it can be a great voice for all these different places around the world, where you can talk about social commentary, or just tell a story about the human condition," he said.

He added that he saw a need to protect the work of auteur filmmakers, saying there was a cultural necessity to support those voices "now more than ever."

His Creative Partnership With Zoe Saldaña

Perego's producing milestone comes after he made his debut as a writer-director with "The Absence of Eden," which starred Saldaña. The couple, who began dating and married in 2013, have often been described as partners in both life and art.

They share three sons: twins Cy and Bowie, 11, and Zen, 9. Perego also took Saldaña's last name after their marriage. Saldaña publicly praised him during her BAFTA Award acceptance speech in February 2025 for "Emilia Pérez," joking:

"My husband, you are God's favorite and I hate it — but you are so beautiful!"

While Saldaña has continued her own major screen career, Perego is expanding his work behind the camera. In addition to his Cannes slate, he is also developing a new directorial project, "Petrichor," starring Isabella Rossellini and Valeria Golino.

For Perego, the Cannes milestone is not just a career shift. It is a statement about the kind of film world he hopes to help build — one centered on artists, international voices, and stories that reach far beyond the red carpet.