Cannes 2024: All about schedule, venue, and what's in store
The prestigious Cannes Film Festival is set to launch its 77th edition next week in southern France. This year's event will feature industry heavyweights such as George Lucas, Meryl Streep, and Demi Moore, among others. The festival, which began in 1939 as an alternative to the Venice Film Festival, has been held annually since 1946 with only two exceptions due to financial issues. Here's your comprehensive guide to the schedule, venue, and anticipated highlights.
Cannes will open with French comedy 'The Second Act'
The Cannes Film Festival is renowned for its carefully curated selection of films, often serving as a precursor to Academy Awards victories. It has also been instrumental in catapulting directors like Quentin Tarantino into the spotlight. Alongside the festival runs the world's largest film market, attracting over 14,000 industry professionals each year. The festival will open with Quentin Dupieux's French comedy The Second Act on May 14 and conclude on May 25.
A glimpse into the Competition films
The official selection at Cannes includes several categories, with the most prestigious being the "in competition" films vying for the Palme d'Or prize. This year's Competition features a total of 22 contenders including The Apprentice by Ali Abbasi, Motel Destino by Karim Ainouz, Bird by Arnold, and Megalopolis by Francis Ford Coppola, among others. Films screening outside of Competition include George Miller's Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga and Kevin Costner's Horizon, An American Saga.
Cannes's highest honor: The Palme d'Or
Palme d'Or is considered the highest honor at Cannes. Previous winners include iconic films such as Taxi Driver, Pulp Fiction, The Pianist, and Parasite. In 1993, Jane Campion made history as the first female director to win the award with The Piano. This was followed by a gap of nearly three decades until Julia Ducournau claimed the prize for Titane (2021). Last year, Justine Triet became only the third female director to receive the award with Anatomy of a Fall.
Honorary Palme d'Or: Recognizing significant contributions
In addition to the Palme d'Or, Cannes also presents an honorary Palme d'Or to acknowledge significant contributions to cinema. Past recipients include Harrison Ford, Jane Fonda, and Clint Eastwood. This year, the accolade will be bestowed upon Lucas—known for his work on Star Wars and Indiana Jones—and Studio Ghibli, marking the first time a group has received this honor. Other awards at Cannes include the Grand Prix, jury prize, best director, best actor/actress, best screenplay, and best short film.
