The 2025 Cannes Movie Competition got here at precarious second within the historical past of cinema, but nonetheless managed to revel within the splendors this artwork kind can present. Whereas the annual worldwide occasion could also be coming to a detailed, it leaves behind a bevy of gems that can proceed to be mentioned all year long and should even land on the Oscars stage in 2026, as was the case with Sean Baker’s 2024 Palme d’Or winner, “Anora.” However earlier than all that, there nonetheless stays the vital act of closing out the festivities with the ever-important awards ceremony.
Predicting the Palme d’Or recipient has change into a cherished pastime for followers and critics alike, however as is the case yearly, the ultimate resolution rests within the fingers of the Fundamental Competitors jury. This yr it’s led by French actress and present European Movie Academy president Juliette Binoche, and likewise contains Halle Berry, Dieudo Hamadi, Hong Sang-soo, Payal Kapadia, Carlos Reygadas, Alba Rohrwacher, Leïla Slimani, and Jeremy Sturdy. Movies featured within the Un Sure Regard part, comparable to Scarlett Johansson’s “Eleanor the Nice” and Harry Lighton’s “Pillion,” shall be judged by jury president Molly Manning Walker, in addition to Nahuel Pérez Biscayart, Louise Courvoisier, Vanja Kaluđerčić, and Roberto Minervini.
Many movies are in competition for the Palme this yr, however distributor Neon appears to be hedging its bets for what could possibly be its sixth win in a row. Throughout the competition, it acquired three options along with the 4 it purchased earlier than this yr’s fest: Kleber Mendonça Filho’s historic thriller “The Secret Agent,” Iranian dissident Jafar Panahi’s nail-biter “It Was Simply an Accident,” and Oliver Laxe’s rave tragedy “Sirât.” Neon acquired the North American distribution rights to Julia Ducarneau’s physique horror “Alpha” and Joachim Trier’s “Sentimental Worth” finally yr’s competition earlier than both went into manufacturing.
After the profitable rollout of “The Substance” final yr and through this yr’s awards race, Mubi can also be leaping into the Palme d’Or fray, with acquisitions of Mascha Schilinski’s generational epic “Sound of Falling” and Lynne Ramsay’s maternal drama “Die My Love.” Coming into the competition, the distributor had already bought Kelly Reichardt’s historic heist movie “The Mastermind” and Oliver Hermanus’ twentieth Century romance “A Historical past of Sound,” each of which premiered in competitors.
The award ceremony will start Saturday, Might 24, at 6:45pm Central European Summer time Time (CEST), which interprets to 12:45pm ET or 9:45am PT in america. You may observe alongside (in French) through Brut’s YouTube channel. Or in English on its Fb web page.