Sean Baker wins Palme d’Or for ‘Anora’

Cannes. American director Sean Baker won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival with his film ‘Anora’. The jury announced this on Saturday evening. The film won against 21 other films in the competition. The decision was made by a jury chaired by director Greta Gerwig.

The jury recognized ‘Anora’ as an ‘incredibly human film’, according to Gerwig. It is a film “that captured our hearts, that made us laugh, that gave us endless hope, that broke our hearts and never lost sight of the truth.”

“Anora” tells the story of a striptease dancer named Ani who meets the son of a Russian oligarch. In his youthful carelessness, the boy marries Ani after just a few days – much to the dismay of his parents, who do everything they can to undo this. The focus is always on Ani (Mikey Madison), who confidently pursues her goals. The fast-paced film is a mix of comedy and drama and impresses with great actors, unexpected twists and lots of humor.

“That’s literally been my only goal as a filmmaker for the last thirty years,” Baker said. “So I’m not sure what I’m going to do with the rest of my life,” the 53-year-old joked on stage.

Special prize for director Mohammed Rassulof, who fled Iran

The Grand Jury Prize, the second most important prize of the festival, went to ‘All We Imagine as Light’ by Indian director Payal Kapadia. Frenchman Jacques Audiard received the jury prize for his musical ‘Emilia Pérez’. Director Mohammed Rassulof, who recently fled Iran, received a special jury prize for ‘The Seed of the Sacred Fig’.

This year, the Best Actress award was shared by four women: it went to actresses Karla Sofía Gascón, Zoe Saldana, Selena Gomez and Adriana Paz for their roles in ‘Emilia Pérez’.

Jesse Plemons won the award for best actor for his role in ‘Kinds of Kindness’ by Giorgos Lanthimos. Miguel Gomes won the award for best director for ‘Grand Tour’. Coralie Fargeat won best screenplay for ‘The Substance’.

Overview: the prize winners at the Cannes Film Festival

The most important prizes of the 77th festival at a glance:

• Golden palm: ‘Anora’ by Sean Baker
• Grand Jury Prize: “Everything we imagine as light” by Payal Kapadia
• Jury prize: “Emilia Pérez” by Jacques Audiard
• Best director: Miguel Gomes for “Grand Tour”
• Special jury prize: “The Seed of the Sacred Fig” Mohammed Rassulof
• Best Actresses: Karla Sofía Gascón, Zoe Saldana, Selena Gomez and Adriana Paz for “Emilia Pérez” by Jacques Audiard
• Best actor: Jesse Plemons for Types of Kindness by Giorgos Lanthimos
• Best scenario: Coralie Fargeat for ‘The Substance’
• Golden Palm for the best short film: The Man Who Couldn’t Keep Silence by Nebojsa Slijepcevic

RND/dpa