The 77th Cannes Film Festival, held from May 16 to 27, 2024, was marked by a strong presence of American cinema, both in the official selection and in the awards given. Despite the disruptions caused by the actors' strike in 2023, independent and established American filmmakers managed to distinguish themselves on the Croisette.
Palme d'Or for Sean Baker's "Anora"
It was American director Sean Baker who won the prestigious Palme d'Or for his film Anora. This New York thriller follows a relationship between a stripper and the son of a Russian oligarch, moving from the underbelly to the luxury villas. The jury, presided over by director Greta Gerwig, hailed this film as an example of the renewal of independent American cinema.
Other Awarded American Films
American cinema was also rewarded in other categories. The Best Actress Award was collectively awarded to the actresses of Jacques Audiard's film Emilia Perez: Karla Sofía Gascón, Zoe Saldana, Selena Gomez, and Adriana Paz. This Spanish-language musical comedy, although directed by a Frenchman, is an American co-production.
Jesse Plemons won the Best Actor prize for his performance(s) In the film Kinds of Kindness from Yorgos Lanthimos, the director of last year's Poor Things.
Prominent Presence of American Directors
Several renowned American directors presented their films in the official competition. Francis Ford Coppola, at 84, unveiled Megalopolis, an ambitious film with a star-studded cast including Dustin Hoffman and Aubrey Plaza. George Miller, the director of the Mad Max saga, presented the highly anticipated Furiosa with Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth, out of competition.
Other American filmmakers also made their presence felt, such as Kevin Costner with his Western film Horizon, An American Saga.
Tributes to Georges Lucas and Meryl Streep
Beyond the competition, the 2024 Cannes Film Festival paid tribute to two iconic figures of American cinema. Georges Lucas, the creator of the Star Wars saga, received an Honorary Palme d'Or for his entire career and his influence on world cinema.
Meryl Streep, the most awarded actress in Hollywood history, was also honoured with a Best Actress Award for her entire body of work. Her presence on the red carpet was greeted with a standing ovation from the public and film professionals.
Despite the challenges posed by the actors' strike in 2023, the 2024 Cannes Film Festival demonstrated the vitality of American cinema, both in its diversity and quality. The awards given to independent films and iconic figures testify to the importance given to the art of cinema in all its richness.
Emilia Perez - On general release 21 August
Kinds of Kindness - On general release 24 June
Furiosa - On general release
Horizon, An American Saga - On general release 3 July
Copyright(s) :
Leonardo AI
Tag(s) : "American cinema" "American filmmakers" "Anora" "Cannes Film Festival" "cinema" "film" "palme d'or" "Selena Gomez"