The 77th edition of the Cannes Film Festival concluded spectacularly, revealing a rich and diverse lineup of winners, with Anora by Sean Baker clinching the prestigious Palme d’Or.
Under the presidency of Greta Gerwig, the jury selected the Palme d’Or winner after a politically charged 77th edition marked by themes of violence, sex and powerful feminist messages. The closing ceremony took place at the world-renowned festival on the French Riviera, where the jury announced the winners from the 22 entries in the main competition.
As usual, the closing ceremony was filled with great emotion. The awards were presented amidst applause, accompanied by politically charged speeches advocating for the causes of minorities, the oppressed and repressed artists worldwide.
Photo Credit: Loic Venance / AFP
The Griffon dog Kodi won the annual Palm Dog award for best canine actor on Friday, proving that he is not just an excellent companion but also a talented actor. The film Dog on Trial lives up to its title perfectly.
Black Dog, a story of friendship between a stray dog and an agent tasked with eliminating them in China, won the Un Certain Regard prize, a parallel section of Cannes. This film gave director Guan Hu the opportunity to “film the daily lives of those left behind by the industrial development driving the country’s economy,” according to the festival.
Three Kilometers to the End of the World, also in contention for the Palme d’Or, received the Queer Palm on Friday night, which annually rewards a feature film addressing LGBTQI+ issues at Cannes. Romanian filmmaker Emanuel Parvu’s film illustrates the ravages of homophobia in a country where only the beauty of nature alleviates the burden of traditions.
Photo Credit: Valery Hache / AFP
The film Armand starring Renate Reinsve won the Caméra d’Or at Cannes, while the ensemble cast of Emilia Perez received the award for Best Actress. American actor Jesse Plemons won the Best Actor award.
A special jury prize was awarded to filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof, who managed to escape from Iran. George Lucas received an honorary Palme d’Or for his entire career.
Finally, the Palme d’Or was awarded to Sean Baker for Anora, crowning an edition marked by poignant and committed films. “We must make films so that they can be shown in theaters,” urged Sean Baker. “This film is beautiful, full of humanity (…) It broke our hearts,” said jury president Greta Gerwig before presenting him with the award.
With AFP
