Guan Hu’s ‘Black Dog’ Takes Top Honor at Cannes Un Certain Regard
Un Certain Regard, a section of the Cannes Film Festival in France dedicated to recognizing unique and emerging cinematic voices, announced its 2024 winners. This year’s selection featured 18 films, with eight of them being debut works also competing for the Caméra d’or.
The 2024 jury was led by renowned Canadian filmmaker Xavier Dolan, with a panel that included French-Senegalese screenwriter and director Maïmouna Doucouré, Moroccan director Asmae El Moudir, German-Luxembourg actress Vicky Krieps, and American film critic and director Todd McCarthy.
The top honor, the Un Certain Regard Prize, was awarded to Guan Hu for "Black Dog," a compelling exploration of contemporary issues. The Jury Prize went to "L’Histoire de Souleymane," directed by Boris Lojkine, highlighting a powerful narrative on human resilience.
The Best Director award was shared between Roberto Minervini for "The Damned" and Rungano Nyoni for "On Becoming a Guinea Fowl," acknowledging their exceptional direction. In acting categories, Anasuya Sengupta received the Best Actress award for her role in "The Shameless," and Abou Sangaré was named Best Actor for his performance in "L’Histoire de Souleymane."
The Youth Award was presented to Louise Courvoisier for her debut film "Holy Cow," and the Special Mention was given to Tawfik Alzaidi’s "Norah," also a first film, showcasing promising new talent in the industry.
The full list of awarded films is as follows:
- Special Mention: "Norah" / Tawfik Alzaidi / 1st film
- Youth Award: "Holy Cow" / Louise Courvoisier / 1st film
- Best Actress: Anasuya Sengupta / "The Shameless"
- Best Actor: Abou Sangaré / "L’Histoire de Souleymane"
- Best Director ex-aequo: Roberto Minervini / "The Damned" and Rungano Nyoni / "On Becoming a Guinea Fowl"
- Jury Prize: "L’Histoire de Souleymane" / Boris Lojkine
- Un Certain Regard Prize: "Black Dog" / Guan Hu
The awarded films will be screened in Paris at L’Arlequin from May 29 to June 4, 2024, offering audiences another chance to experience these celebrated works.
Un Certain Regard continues to serve as a platform for new cinematic trends and voices, reflecting a rich diversity in storytelling and perspective. This year’s selection and awarded films underscore the festival’s commitment to discovering and promoting innovative filmmakers from around the world.