Updated May 25, 2025 – Cannes, France — The 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival concluded with powerful statements in both cinema and resilience. Despite a regional blackout on the final day, the awards ceremony went ahead smoothly at the Palais des Festivals, with jury president Juliette Binoche and her distinguished jury unveiling this year’s winners.
While the coveted Palme d’Or winner is yet to be announced, several standout titles have already emerged victorious across categories, reflecting a globally conscious and artistically bold competition lineup.
Grand Prix and Acting Honors
The Grand Prix, often seen as the second-highest honor at Cannes, went to Norwegian director Joachim Trier for “Sentimental Value”, a poignant family drama about a filmmaker trying to reconnect with his estranged daughter through cinema.
In acting categories, Nadia Melliti took home Best Actress for her moving role in “Little Sister”, while Wagner Moura won Best Actor for his performance in “The Secret Agent”, where he portrays a father navigating political danger during Brazil’s military dictatorship. The same film also secured the Best Director award for Kleber Mendonça Filho, marking it as a festival favorite.
Jury Prize and Special Recognitions
In a rare split, the Jury Prize was awarded to both “Sirat” by Spain’s Olivier Laxe and “Sound of Falling” by Germany’s Mascha Schilinski, signaling the jury’s recognition of emerging visionary filmmakers.
Chinese director Bi Gan received a Special Jury Award for his film “Resurrection”, continuing his reputation for visually poetic storytelling.
Firsts and Milestones
Hasan Hadi’s “The President’s Cake” earned the Camera d’Or for best debut feature, marking a historic moment as the first-ever Iraqi film to receive an award at Cannes. It also won the Directors’ Fortnight Audience Award, confirming its cross-section appeal.
In the short film category, “I’m Glad You’re Dead Now” by Tawfeek Barhom won the Short Film Palme d’Or, while “Ali” by Adnan Al Rajeev received a special mention.
Other Highlights
FIPRESCI Awards, judged by international film critics, went to “The Secret Agent”, “Urchin” (Un Certain Regard), and “Dandelion’s Odyssey” (Parallel Sections).
The Queer Palm was awarded to “Little Sister” by Hafsia Heerzi.
“Imago” by Déni Oumar Pitsaev swept both the Golden Eye Documentary Prize and Critics’ Week French Touch Prize.
The quirky Palme Dog was given to Panda, the canine star of “The Love That Remains”.
Un Certain Regard and Critics’ Week
The Un Certain Regard Award went to Chilean director Diego Céspedes for “The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo”. The Jury Prize was given to “A Poet” by Simón Mesa Soto, and Tarzan and Arab Nasser won Best Director for “Once Upon a Time in Gaza”.
In Critics’ Week, Thailand’s Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke won the Grand Prize for “A Useful Ghost”, and Théodore Pellerin was honored as Rising Star for his performance in “Nino”.
Innovation and Immersive Storytelling
In the Immersive Competition, Dutch director Michel van der Aa’s “From Dust” took the top honor, showcasing Cannes’ continued embrace of future-facing storytelling technologies.
With films from Gaza to Brazil and Iraq to Norway, this year’s Cannes Film Festival has proven once again that bold, border-crossing cinema thrives — even amid global unrest and unexpected logistical challenges.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
