Cannes 2024: Sean Baker’s “Anora” Wins Palme d’Or
The 77th Festival de Cannes in France culminated with an awards ceremony honoring outstanding films and performances. The Feature Film Jury, led by Greta Gerwig and including esteemed members like Lily Gladstone and Omar Sy, announced the winners from a competitive lineup of 22 films.
The prestigious Palme d'Or was awarded to Sean Baker for his film "Anora. The film, featuring Mikey Madison as Ani, a sex worker from Brooklyn, follows her whirlwind romance with Ivan, the son of a Russian oligarch. The movie's dynamic narrative and vibrant cinematography captivated the jury, making it a standout at the festival.
Payal Kapadia's "All We Imagine as Light" won the Grand Prix, recognized for its profound storytelling and artistic vision.
Jacques Audiard's "Emilia Pérez" took home the Jury Prize, with its ensemble cast—Adriana Paz, Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón, and Selena Gomez—jointly awarded Best Actress for their exceptional performances. Greta Gerwig, explaining the jury's decision, noted, "Separating them would have broken the magic of what they had managed to create."
Mohammad Rasoulof's "The Seed of the Sacred Fig" received the Special Jury Prize, celebrated for its bravery and the sacrifices made during its creation. "We wanted to shine a spotlight on the bravery it took to make this film," Gerwig stated, emphasizing the importance of highlighting significant issues through cinema.
Best Director was awarded to Miguel Gomes for "Grand Tour," showcasing his remarkable directorial prowess. Jesse Plemons won Best Actor for his role in "Kinds of Kindness," directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. Although unable to attend, his award was accepted on his behalf by the film's publicist.
Coralie Fargeat's "The Substance" won Best Screenplay, recognized for its innovative narrative structure and compelling dialogue.
Complete List of Winners:
Feature Films:
- Palme d’Or: "ANORA" by Sean Baker
- Grand Prix: "ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT" by Payal Kapadia
- Jury Prize: "EMILIA PÉREZ" by Jacques Audiard
- Best Director: Miguel Gomes for "GRAND TOUR"
- Special Award: Mohammad Rasoulof for "THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG"
- Best Performance by an Actor: Jesse Plemons in "KINDS OF KINDNESS" directed by Yorgos Lanthimos
- Best Performance by an Actress: Adriana Paz, Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez in "EMILIA PÉREZ" directed by Jacques Audiard
- Best Screenplay: Coralie Fargeat for "THE SUBSTANCE"
Short Films:
- Palme d’Or: "THE MAN WHO COULD NOT REMAIN SILENT" by Nebojša Slijepčević
- Special Mention: "BAD FOR A MOMENT" by Daniel Soares
Un Certain Regard:
- Prize: "BLACK DOG" by Guan Hu
- Jury Prize: "L’HISTOIRE DE SOULEYMANE" by Boris Lojkine
- Best Director ex-aequo: Roberto Minervini for "The Damned" and Rungano Nyoni for "On Becoming a Guinea Fowl"
- Best Actress: Anasuya Sengupta in "The Shameless"
- Best Actor: Abou Sangaré in "L’Histoire de Souleymane"
- Youth Award: "HOLY COW" by Louise Courvoisier
- Special Mention: "NORAH" by Tawfik Alzaidi
Caméra d’Or:
- Prize: "ARMAND" by Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel
- Special Mention: "MONGREL" by Wei Liang Chiang & You Qiao Yin
La Cinef:
- First Prize: "SUNFLOWERS WERE THE FIRST ONES TO KNOW…" by Chidananda S Naik
- Joint Second Prize: "OUT THE WINDOW THROUGH THE WALL" by Asya Segalovich, and "THE CHAOS SHE LEFT BEHIND" by Nikos Kolioukos
- Third Prize: "BUNNYHOOD" by Mansi Maheshwari
Superior Technical Commission:
The CST Award for Best Artist-Technician was granted to Daria D’Antonio, Director of Photography on Paolo Sorrentino’s film "Parthenope," and the CST Award for Best Young Female Film Technician was awarded to Evgenia Alexandrova, Director of Photography on Noémie Merlant’s film "The Balconettes."