Greta Gerwig Leads Jury In Awarding Palme d’Or To ‘Anora,’ First American Winner In 13 Years

The 77th annual Cannes Film Festival concluded on Saturday with an elegant closing ceremony at the Palais des Festivals. Under the spotlight were the esteemed jury members, led by acclaimed filmmaker and actress Greta Gerwig, who took the stage to announce the winner of the prestigious Palme d’Or.

The star-studded red carpet saw appearances by Festival President Iris Knobloch and Cannes Film Festival director Thierry Frémaux, along with jury members Pierfrancesco Favino, Nadine Labaki, Lily Gladstone, Juan Antonio Bayona, Eva Green, Omar Sy, Ebru Ceylan and Hirokazu Kore-eda. Each brought a unique perspective to this year’s diverse jury panel, reflecting the global influence of cinema.

Gerwig, known for her directorial successes Lady Bird, Little Women and Barbie, led the jury through a competition that featured 21 films from around the world as its president. In her speech, she highlighted the importance of storytelling in bridging cultural divides and praised the high caliber of entries.

The night’s highest honor, the Palme d’Or, was awarded to American director Sean Baker for Anora, a rowdy whirlwind romance between an exotic dancer, played by Mikey Madison and the obscenely wealthy son of a Russian oligarch, played by Mark Eydelshteyn. Baker is the first American filmmaker to win the festival’s top award since Terrence Malick won the Palme d’Or for The Tree of Life in 2011.

Nadine Labaki, a Lebanese actress and director, expressed her admiration for the winning film, noting its powerful emotional impact. Fellow jury member actor Pierfrancesco Favino echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the film’s technical excellence and storytelling prowess.

Eva Green, known for her roles in independent and blockbuster films, added a touch of Hollywood glamour to the ceremony. At the same time, French actor Omar Sy brought his charismatic presence to the event. Turkish filmmaker Ebru Ceylan and Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda contributed their deep cinematic insights, rounding out a jury that reflected the festival’s commitment to international cinema.