The Cannes Film Festival came to its triumphant conclusion this weekend, and Justine Triet emerged as its biggest winner. She solidified her place in history after claiming the prestigious Palme d’Or with her latest film Anatomy of a Fall, becoming only the third women in history to do so.
Triet joined in the ranks of Jane Campion and Julia Ducournau as the third female winner of the festival’s biggest prize. Ducournau was even a member of this year’s main competition jury alongside Ruben Östlund, who admitted it wasn’t easy to pick the ultimate Palme d’Or winner.
“We had a lot of fun and intense discussions. It was exhausting in the end. The day was emotional… It was a very strong lineup. It wasn’t easy. We each had to fight for what we believed. I really believe it was a very strong lineup this year,” said Östlund.
Triet received Palme d’Or from the Hollywood legend Jane Fonda, who reflected on the progress that the Cannes Film Festival went through since her first appearance in 1963, but added that we still “have a long way to go” in terms of female representation.
The Cannes Film Festival took place between May 16-27, and many of the year’s most anticipated films had their world premieres at the festival, including Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Killers of the Flower Moon, Asteroid City, and Elemental.
FULL LIST OF WINNERS AT THE 2023 CANNES FILM FESTIVAL:
Palme d’Or
Anatomy of a Fall, dir: Justine Triet
Grand Prize
The Zone of Interest, dir: Jonathan Glazer
Best Director
Tranh Anh Hung, The Pot-au-Feu
Jury Prize
Fallen Leaves, dir: Aki Kaurismaki
Best Screenplay
Yuji Sakamato, Monster
Best Actress
Merve Dizdar, About Dry Grasses
Best Actor
Koji Yakusho, Perfect Days
Camera d’Or
Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell, dir: Thien An Pham
Short Film Palme d’Or
27, dir: Flóra Anna Buda
Special Mention:
Far, dir: Gunnur Martinsdottir Schluter
