The Evolving Impact of the Cannes Film Festival

The Cannes Film Festival is distinct from the Oscars. Known for its focus on niche, art-house films, Cannes carries a French influence that has historically catered to a specific audience. Films winning the Palme d’Or, the festival’s highest honor, were once the domain of film enthusiasts and largely unnoticed by mainstream audiences. This trend is shifting.

A Changing Audience

This year’s Palme d’Or was awarded to “Fjord,” a multilingual drama by Romanian filmmaker Cristian Mungiu. The film is set against the backdrop of culture wars, a theme resonant with today’s global audience. My colleague, Kyle Buchanan, our awards season columnist, shared insights from his experiences at the festival.

Why Cannes Matters

Cannes marks the beginning of the awards season. Films that perform well here often go on to succeed in the Oscars. For example, “Anora,” a Palme d’Or winner two years ago, secured Oscars for best picture, director, and actress. Last year, both “Sentimental Value” and “The Secret Agent” were nominated for best picture after their success at Cannes.

The festival’s significance increased after “Parasite” won the Palme d’Or in 2019 and later became the first non-English language film to win the Oscar for best picture. In the subsequent year, four of the five best international-film nominees initially premiered at Cannes.