The Cannes Film Festival requested that "The Third Mother" be ready in time for consideration as a 2007 competition contender. However, the film was not screened in its entirety at the festival. On 17 May 2007 at 9:30 am Myriad premiered 20 minutes of footage from the film, consisting of eight lengthy scenes, to a packed audience. The preview was preceded by a credit roll and disclaimer that warned of graphic violence. The eight scenes included: the complete beginning to the point where Asia opens the Mother of Tears urn, the arrival of several demons, Daria Nicolodi's "powder puff" scene, a lesbian death scene, Udo Kier's major scene, Asia running through the streets of Rome, Adam James' major scene, and the entrance of Mater Lachrymarum. According to reporter Alan Jones the audiences' reaction was mixed: the acting quality varied and the script contained too much exposition, but the cinematography was beautiful.