The Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival was awarded to “Anora,” a film directed by Sean Baker about a sex worker who marries the son of a Russian oligarch. The protagonist is portrayed by Mikey Madison in a praised breakthrough performance. George Lucas presented the award at the ceremony, which opened with a spoof of the original “Star Wars” crawl. Lucas received an honorary award and was accompanied by his friend Francis Ford Coppola, who presented Lucas with an honorary Palme d’Or.
The competition jury, led by Greta Gerwig, gave a special award to the Iranian film “The Seed of the Sacred Fig,” directed by Mohammad Rasoulof who accepted the award in person after fleeing the country. The Grand Prix was awarded to the Indian film “All We Imagine as Light,” directed by Payal Kapadia, which tells the story of three women in contemporary Mumbai. Jesse Plemons won best actor for “Kinds of Kindness” and Jacques Audiard’s “Emilia Pérez” won best actress and the jury prize. Portuguese filmmaker Miguel Gomes won best director for “Grand Tour.”
A screenplay award was given to the horror film “The Substance” starring Demi Moore as a Hollywood actress. The Camera d’Or prize for best first feature was awarded to “Armand,” a psychological thriller from the Norwegian director Halfdan Ullmann Tondel. Leading up to the festival, rumors swirled about potential protests against the war in Gaza and scandalous revelations about industry figures, including Coppola. However, the focus at the festival remained on the films, as organizers had hoped.
Overall, the Cannes Film Festival showcased a diverse range of films from different countries and genres, with a clear focus on celebrating cinematic excellence. The award winners, including the Palme d’Or recipient “Anora,” received praise for their performances and storytelling. The event also featured honorary awards, special recognitions, and special mentions for exceptional contributions to the film industry. Despite rumors and potential distractions, the festival managed to keep the spotlight on the films and the talent behind them, creating an atmosphere of appreciation and celebration for the art of filmmaking.
