Lynch financed much of the production from his own resources , with longtime artistic collaborator and ex-wife Mary Sweeney producing . The film was also partially financed by the French production company StudioCanal , which had provided funding for three previous Lynch films . StudioCanal wanted to enter the film in the 2006 Cannes Film Festival . Instead , it premiered at Italy 's Venice Film Festival on 6 September 2006 , where David Lynch also received the Golden Lion lifetime achievement award for his " contributions to the art of cinema " . The film premiered in the United States on 8 October 2006 at the New York Film Festival . The film received a limited release in the US beginning on 15 December 2006 ; distribution was handled by the specialist company 518 Media
2006 Cannes Film Festival
2006 Cannes Film Festival
Inland Empire (film)