The Role of Cannes in Awards Season

Cannes has long stood apart from the Oscars, traditionally known for its focus on niche, art house films with a distinctly French flair. Historically, films receiving the Palme d’Or, Cannes’ highest award, were lauded by film enthusiasts but overlooked by mainstream audiences. However, recent shifts have changed this dynamic.

This year’s Palme d’Or was awarded to ‘Fjord,’ a multilingual drama by Romanian filmmaker Cristian Mungiu. The film is set amid cultural conflicts and highlights how Cannes can shape the broader awards season. Kyle Buchanan, an awards season columnist, discussed the evolution of Cannes and its significance.

Buchanan emphasizes that Cannes is crucial for those interested in awards season. It is often the starting point. For instance, ‘Anora’ won the Palme d’Or and subsequently collected Oscars for best picture, best director, and best actress. Similarly, ‘Sentimental Value’ and ‘The Secret Agent’ received best picture nominations, with their campaigns kickstarting at Cannes.

Historically, Cannes contributed at most one best-picture contender per year. Everything changed when ‘Parasite’ won the Palme d’Or in 2019 and became the first non-English language film to secure the Oscar for best picture. Since then, Cannes has gained considerable importance. Last year alone, four out of the five international-film nominees premiered here.