2024 Cannes Film Festival

2024 Cannes Film Festival
Official poster of the 77th Cannes Film Festival featuring a still image from the movie Rhapsody in August by Akira Kurosawa (1991)
Opening filmThe Second Act
Closing filmAnora
LocationCannes, France
Founded1946
AwardsPalme d'Or: Anora
Hosted byCamille Cottin
Artistic directorThierry Frémaux
No. of films22 (In Competition)
Festival date14–25 May 2024
Websitefestival-cannes.com/en
Cannes Film Festival
2025

The 77th annual Cannes Film Festival took place from 14 to 25 May 2024.[1][2] American filmmaker and actress Greta Gerwig served as jury president for the main competition.[3] French actress Camille Cottin hosted the opening and closing ceremonies.[4] American filmmaker Sean Baker won the Palme d'Or, the festival's top prize, for the comedy-drama film Anora.[5]

The official poster for the festival featuring a still image from the movie Rhapsody in August (1991) by Akira Kurosawa, selected for the 1991 edition, was designed by Hartland Villa.[6]

During the festival, three Honorary Palme d'Or were awarded: the first was awarded to Meryl Streep during the festival's opening ceremony;[7] the second was awarded to Studio Ghibli;[8][9] and the third was awarded to George Lucas during the festival's closing ceremony.[10][11]

Few days before the opening ceremony, festival workers called for a general strike. The Broke Behind the Screens (Sous les écrans la dèche) collective made public a complaint about the precarious nature of film festival work.[12]

Following the official announcement of The Seed of the Sacred Fig's selection for the main competition, Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof was sentenced to eight years in prison as well as flogging, a fine, and confiscation of his property, on the charge of "propaganda against the regime." Cast and crew were interrogated and pressured to convince Rasoulof to withdraw the film from the festival.[13][14] Shortly after, Rasoulof and some crew members managed to flee from Iran to Europe, and attended the film's world premiere on 24 May 2024.[15] On the red carpet, Rasoulof held up images of stars Soheila Golestani and Missagh Zareh, who were unable to leave Iran for the premiere, and had their passport confiscated. The film received a 12-minute standing ovation, while cast and crew protested in solidarity with Iranian women fight for rights.[16]

The festival opened with French comedy-film The Second Act directed by Quentin Dupieux.[17]

  1. ^ "Press Area". Festival de Cannes. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  2. ^ "Cornucopia Events | Cannes Film Festival 2024". www.cornucopia-events.co.uk. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  3. ^ "Greta Gerwig, Jury President of the 77th Cannes Film Festival". Festival de Cannes. 14 December 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  4. ^ "Camille Cottin, star of 'Call My Agent', to host Cannes Film Festival". Le Monde.fr. 14 March 2024. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  5. ^ "The 77th Festival de Cannes winners' list". Festival de Cannes. 25 May 2024. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  6. ^ "The Official Poster of the 77th Festival de Cannes". Festival de Cannes. 19 April 2024. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  7. ^ "Meryl Streep Guest of honour at the opening ceremony of the 77th Festival de Cannes". Festival de Cannes. 2 May 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  8. ^ Tangcay, Jazz (17 April 2024). "Studio Ghibli to Receive Honorary Palme d'Or at Cannes Film Festival". Variety. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  9. ^ "Studio Ghibli Honorary Palme d'or of the 77th Festival de Cannes". Festival de Cannes. 17 April 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  10. ^ "George Lucas Honorary Palme d'or of the 77th Festival de Cannes". Festival de Cannes. 9 April 2024. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  11. ^ "Les Misérables! Cannes Film Festival Workers Planning Protests & Potential Strike Action Over Pay". Deadline. May 2024.
  12. ^ "Cannes Festival Workers Group Calls for Strike Action". The Hollwyood Reporter. 6 May 2024.
  13. ^ Vivarelli, Nick (2 May 2024). "Iran Pressures Mohammed Rasoulof to Pull 'Seed of the Sacred Fig' From Cannes, Slaps Travel Ban on Film's Actors". Variety. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  14. ^ Goodfellow, Melanie (8 May 2024). "Mohammad Rasoulof Sentenced To Eight Years In Prison, Flogging & Confiscation Of Property, Says Lawyer". Deadline. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  15. ^ Chrisafis, Angelique; Shoard, Catherine (13 May 2024). "Iranian film director Mohammad Rasoulof flees Iran to avoid prison". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  16. ^ Setoodeh, Ramin; Shafer, Ellise (24 May 2024). "Mohammad Rasoulof's 'Seed of the Sacred Fig' Shakes Up Cannes With 2024 Record 12-Minute Standing Ovation, Becoming Palme d'Or Frontrunner". Variety. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  17. ^ "Quentin Dupieux's new comedy to open the 77th Festival de Cannes". Festival de Cannes. 3 April 2024.