[Photo &] Christian Mungiu wins his second Palme d’Or at the 79th Cannes Film Festival with “Fjord,” while Na Hong-jin’s “Hope” misses out

A Master Returns, Reaching the Peak of Cannes

The eyes of cinephiles around the world were on the 79th Cannes Film Festival, and its top honor, “Palme d’Or,” went to Romanian master “Christian Mungiu.” The winning film, “Fjord,” is a sharp examination of modern society’s extremism through the conflicts of a couple who moved to Norway. Mungiu underscored “a message of tolerance and empathy in a divided society”, delivering his second coronation, following his first in 2007. After fierce competition among 22 films, it marked the moment that opened a new horizon for artistry.

The horrors of war, shaped into a thriller for the Jury Prize

For the festival’s second crown on the big screen, the “Jury Prize” was awarded to “Minotaur,” directed by “Andrey Zvyagintsev.” Against the heavy reality of the Russia-Ukraine war, the film wove the pressure of conscription and an individual’s collapse into a suffocating thriller. Meanwhile, “Hope,” directed by “Na Hong-jin,” who returned to Cannes after four years, unfortunately took home no prize. Still, Na said, “In the remaining two months, I will focus on a perfect ending for the audience,” showing the steady poise of a veteran master.

An unusual joint win, an ensemble of boldness and solidarity

This year’s Cannes choice was bold. Two teams stepped onto the “Best Director” stage. The “La Vola Negra” duo of Javier Ambrosi and Javier Calvo, and “Fatherland”’s “Pawel Pawlikowski” shared the glory. Their joint win, which pierced into the underside of the times through different perspectives, is a symbolic moment proving how far the language of cinema can expand. The Jury Prize went to Valesska Griesbach from Germany, and the Screenplay Prize went to Emmanuel Mare from France, showcasing Europe’s strength in film.

Madness that overwhelms the screen, faces of glory

The acting awards also kept coming in a relay of joint wins. For “Coward,” which depicts the brutality of World War I, Emmanuel Macia and Valentín Kampanuex grabbed “Best Actor,” earning praise for perfectly embodying the scars left by war. “Best Actress” went to Virjini Epyra and Okamoto Dao for “All of a Sudden.” Legendary diva “Barbra Streisand” also claimed the “Honorary Palme d’Or,” leaving behind a moving tribute: “Film is the magic that binds us.”

Eyes on the future, masterworks unearthed by Cannes

Cannes’s true value lies in discovering new points of view. A notable spotlight award went to Sandra Bollner’s “Everytime,” which received recognition for its original aesthetics. In the short film category, Federico Luis’s “Para los contrincantes” won the Palme d’Or, signaling the arrival of a next-generation master. The dazzling 12-day journey has ended, but the artistic questions Cannes left behind will now rise as new discourse in the hearts of audiences around the world.

Results for major categories

• “Palme d’Or”: Fjord (Christian Mungiu)

• “Jury Prize”: Minotaur (Andrey Zvyagintsev)

• “Best Director”: Javier Ambrosi·Javier Calvo (La Vola Negra), Pawel Pawlikowski (Fatherland)

• “Jury Prize”: Valesska Griesbach (The Dreamed Adventure)

• “Screenplay Prize”: Emmanuel Mare (Notre Salle)

• “Best Actor”: Emmanuel Macia·Valentín Kampanuex (Coward)

• “Best Actress”: Virjini Epyra·Okamoto Dao (All of a Sudden)

• “Honorary Palme d’Or”: Barbra Streisand

Notable spotlight films and short film categories

• Short Film Palme d’Or: Para los contrincantes (Director Federico Luis, Argentina)

• Golden Camera Award: Beninmana (Director Marie-Clementine Dussabzjambo, Rwanda)

• Notable spotlight selection: Everytime (Director Sandra Bollner)

• Notable spotlight jury prize: Elephants in the Fog (Director Avinash Vikram Shah)

• Notable spotlight special award: Iron Boy (Director Louis Clichy)

• Notable spotlight Best Actor: Bradley Fiomona Dembyeaseset (Congo Boy)

• Notable spotlight Best Actress: Marina de Távira and two others (Sempre soi tu Animal Materno)

• La Cinéf 1st prize: Laser-Gato (Director Lucas Asher, United States)

• La Cinéf 2nd prize: Silent Voices (Director Nadine Mison Jin, United States)

• La Cinéf 3rd prize: Aldric Noc (Director Julius Laguet Larsen, France), Growing Stones Flying Papers (Luise Gezerse and one other, Germany) joint win

The 79th Cannes Film Festival, where audiences and directors around the world showcased a variety of viewpoints and original direction, successfully wrapped up its dazzling 12-day journey.