The 77th Cannes Film Festival concluded in May 2024 with its prestigious award ceremony, celebrating outstanding achievements in cinema after twelve days of screenings, red carpet moments, and industry gatherings. This year’s edition featured a diverse selection of films from established auteurs and emerging talents alike.
Cannes Film Festival 2024: Award Winners and Highlights
The 77th Cannes Film Festival concluded in May 2024 with its prestigious award ceremony, celebrating outstanding achievements in cinema after twelve days of screenings, red carpet moments, and industry gatherings. This year’s edition featured a diverse selection of films from established auteurs and emerging talents alike.
Major Awards
Palme d’Or: « The Seed of the Sacred Fig » by Mohammad Rasoulof (Iran)
- The top prize went to the Iranian director’s clandestinely produced drama about a judge facing a moral crisis during political unrest. Rasoulof, unable to attend due to travel restrictions in Iran, accepted via video call in an emotional moment.
Grand Prix: « Emilia Pérez » by Jacques Audiard (France)
- This genre-bending musical drama starring Zoe Saldaña and Selena Gomez earned the festival’s second-highest honor, with Audiard’s bold direction receiving particular praise.
Jury Prize: « Jackpot » by Kelly Reichardt (USA)
- Reichardt’s understated exploration of working-class struggles in rural America secured this recognition from Greta Gerwig’s jury.
Best Director: Apichatpong Weerasethakul (Thailand) for « Memoria II »
- The Thai filmmaker’s hypnotic sequel to his 2021 film continued his singular cinematic vision, earning him the directing prize.
Best Actress: Léa Seydoux for « The Substance » (France)
- Seydoux’s transformative performance in Coralie Fargeat’s body horror satire was unanimously praised for its courage and intensity.
Best Actor: Jesse Plemons for « Anora » (USA)
- Plemons earned recognition for his nuanced portrayal in Sean Baker’s character study of grief and redemption.
Best Screenplay: « The Apprentice » by Ali Abbasi (Denmark/USA)
- This biographical drama examining the early career of Donald Trump received the screenplay award for its sharp writing.
Camera d’Or (Best First Feature): « Wild Diamond » by Agathe Riedinger (France)
- This debut about youth culture on the French coast marked Riedinger as a director to watch.
Special Jury Prize: « Caught by the Tides » by Jia Zhangke (China)
- The veteran Chinese director’s documentary-fiction hybrid received special recognition.
Un Certain Regard Section
Un Certain Regard Prize: « Armand » by Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel (Norway/Sweden)
- This intimate family drama dominated the parallel competition section.
Jury Prize: « The Damned » by Roberto Minervini (Italy/USA)
- Minervini’s unflinching look at marginalized Americans earned critical acclaim.
Other Highlights
The festival saw strong showings from female directors, with 45% of the official selection helmed by women—a record in the festival’s history. The Critics’ Week sidebar awarded its top prize to « The Quiet Son » by Brazilian filmmaker Kleber Mendonça Filho, while Directors’ Fortnight honored « After the Fire » by British director Clio Barnard.
Industry conversations were dominated by discussions about the integration of AI in filmmaking, theatrical distribution challenges, and increasing diversity in cinema. Despite some controversies—including a protest on the red carpet addressing global political issues—the 2024 edition reaffirmed Cannes’ position as the world’s preeminent celebration of cinematic art.
