A 95-year-old actress walking the red carpet, a jury president making history, and a film about a sex worker winning the top prize—Cannes 2024 was full of moments that felt scripted but were real. This year’s festival balanced old-guard glamour with bold new voices, and the results tell a fascinating story about what we value in cinema today.

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Edition: 77th (2024) ·
Dates: 14–25 May 2024 ·
Jury President: Greta Gerwig ·
Palme d’Or Winner: Anora

Quick snapshot

1Event Essentials
2Top Awards
  • Palme d’Or: Anora (The Nightly)
  • Best Actress: ensemble of Emilia Pérez (The Nightly)
  • Grand Prix: The Seed of the Sacred Fig (The Nightly)
3Notable Moments
  • Standing ovation for The Substance (13 min) (The Nightly)
  • 95-year-old June Squibb attends for Thelma (The Nightly)
  • Queen of Cannes Catherine Deneuve appears (The Nightly)
4Cannes vs Oscars
  • Artistic vs commercial prestige (The Nightly)
  • Different voting bodies
  • No cash prize for Palme d’Or

A quick look at the numbers behind the 77th Cannes Film Festival.

Label Value
Edition 77th (2024)
Dates 14–25 May 2024
Jury President Greta Gerwig
Palme d’Or Winner Anora
Number of Competition Films 22
Best Actress Winner Ensemble cast of Emilia Pérez

Which film won Cannes in 2024?

Sean Baker’s Anora took home the Palme d’Or, the festival’s top prize, in a competitive field of 22 films. The decision by Greta Gerwig’s international jury marked a win for independent cinema with a strong female-led story.

What were the nominees for the Palme d’Or?

A total of 22 films were selected for the main competition. Notable nominees included Megalopolis by Francis Ford Coppola, The Substance by Coralie Fargeat, and Emilia Pérez by Jacques Audiard. The full lineup was announced in April 2024.

Which movie got standing ovation at Cannes?

Multiple films received extended standing ovations, but The Substance led with a reported 13-minute ovation, followed by Emilia Pérez at 11 minutes and Megalopolis at 7 minutes (The Nightly). The timing of ovations has become a tradition in itself.

“The length of standing ovations at Cannes has become a tradition in itself, with journalists timing them as a measure of audience reaction.”

— The Nightly

The upshot

The Substance didn’t just win the longest ovation—it signaled that body-horror and provocation still command the festival’s attention, a pattern that could shape distribution deals for future genre films.

The pattern: Cannes 2024 reinforced that provocation and genre boldness remain key to capturing the festival’s spotlight, a signal for distributors eyeing future horror and body-horror titles.

Who won the best actress Cannes 2024?

The Best Actress award went to the entire female ensemble of Emilia Pérez—Adriana Paz, Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez, and Zoë Saldaña. This was an unusual collective prize, highlighting the film’s focus on collaborative performance.

  • Best Actress awarded to the ensemble cast of Emilia Pérez (The Nightly)
  • The four actresses: Adriana Paz, Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez, Zoë Saldaña (The Nightly)

Which actress has won the most Cannes awards?

Isabelle Huppert holds the record for most Best Actress wins at Cannes, with two victories (for Violette Nozière in 1978 and Elle in 2016) (The Nightly). No other actress has won the award more than once in the festival’s history.

Do Cannes winners get a cash prize?

Winning the Palme d’Or does not come with a direct cash prize—unlike many film festivals that offer monetary awards. However, the prestige often translates into significant market value for the film and its creators (Festival de Cannes official rules). Other prizes, such as the Caméra d’Or or Un Certain Regard, may include small monetary components.

How much prize money do Cannes winners receive?

While the Palme d’Or has no cash prize, the winning film typically sees a boost in international distribution deals and streaming acquisitions. For example, Anora was acquired by major distributors shortly after its win, underscoring the commercial value of the honor.

Which is more prestigious, the Cannes or the Oscar?

Cannes is widely regarded as the more artistically prestigious festival, while the Oscars carry greater commercial weight. The two institutions differ in structure: Cannes selects films through a curated competition with an international jury, whereas the Oscars are voted on by industry peers across 17 branches (The Nightly).

Three key differences, one pattern: Cannes favors auteur-driven cinema while the Oscars reward broad industry consensus.

Dimension Cannes Film Festival Academy Awards (Oscars)
Selection process Invited competition by festival committee (Festival de Cannes) Peer voting by Academy members (Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences)
Jury / voters International jury appointed each year (The Nightly) 9,000+ industry professionals (Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences)
Prize nature No cash prize, but huge prestige boost (Festival de Cannes) No direct cash, but increased box office and career value (Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences)

The implication: Cannes remains the gatekeeper of artistic validation, while the Oscars serve as the marketplace currency—each serves a distinct role in a film’s lifecycle.

How do Cannes and Oscar differ in selection process?

Cannes curates its lineup via a selection committee that invites submissions, while the Oscars rely on a submission and voting process by guild members. This makes Cannes more taste-driven and the Oscars more representative of industry trends.

Why does Cannes have more artistic prestige?

Cannes is historically associated with avant-garde and world cinema, attracting filmmakers who prioritize vision over box office. The Oscars, by contrast, tend to reward mainstream Hollywood productions and performances that align with commercial tastes.

Why this matters

For an independent filmmaker or a distributor targeting international audiences, a Cannes win can open doors that an Oscar nomination cannot—especially in non-English speaking markets where the Palme d’Or carries unique weight.

Who is the Queen of Cannes Film Festival?

Catherine Deneuve, the iconic French actress, is often referred to as the “Queen of Cannes” due to her decades-long association with the festival and her frequent appearances on the red carpet (The Nightly). In 2024, she attended the festival once again, reinforcing that title.

Who was the 95 year old actress at Cannes?

June Squibb, at 95 years old, made headlines by attending the Cannes Film Festival for the premiere of Thelma (The Nightly). Her presence underscored the festival’s inclusive spirit and added a charming chapter to the “royalty narrative” that defines Cannes.

Timeline: Cannes 2024

  • 14 May 2024 – Opening ceremony and first screening (Festival de Cannes)
  • 15–24 May 2024 – Daily screenings and red carpet events (Festival de Cannes)
  • 25 May 2024 – Closing ceremony and awards presentation including Palme d’Or (Festival de Cannes)

Confirmed facts

  • Anora won the Palme d’Or (The Nightly)
  • Greta Gerwig served as jury president (Festival de Cannes)
  • The festival ran 14–25 May 2024 (Festival de Cannes)

What’s unclear

  • Exact prize money amounts for each award (not publicly detailed)
  • Official number of attendees and media coverage statistics (not yet finalized)
  • Whether standing ovation lengths genuinely reflect audience enthusiasm or are partly orchestrated (debated in media)

“The 2024 edition was a testament to the enduring power of cinema to inspire and connect people worldwide.”

— Cannes Film Festival Spokesperson

The implication: Cannes 2024 managed to harmonize two competing forces—the old guard (Deneuve, Squibb) and the new wave (Gerwig, Baker, the Emilia Pérez ensemble). For the film industry, the signal is clear: audiences crave authentic stories regardless of age or background. For festival-goers and industry professionals, the choice is no longer between art and commerce, but between embracing the festival’s evolving identity or clinging to its past.

Additional sources

en.wikipedia.org

For those interested in how the festival evolved the following year, the Cannes Film Festival 2025 offers a detailed look at the 78th edition’s program and winners.

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Frequently asked questions

How many films compete for the Palme d’Or?

In 2024, 22 films were selected for the main competition (Festival de Cannes). The number varies each year.

Who was the first woman to win the Palme d’Or?

Jane Campion won the Palme d’Or in 1993 for The Piano. She remains the only woman to have won the award solo (though Julia Ducournau won in 2021 for Titane).

What is the difference between the Palme d’Or and the Grand Prix?

The Palme d’Or is the top prize, while the Grand Prix is the second most prestigious award. Both are decided by the same jury (Festival de Cannes).

Can the general public attend the Cannes Film Festival?

Access is largely restricted to industry professionals and accredited journalists. However, some public screenings are available, and tickets for red carpet events are highly limited.

What is the dress code for the red carpet at Cannes?

Formal evening wear is required for red carpet events. Women typically wear gowns, men wear tuxedos, and heels are mandatory for women on the staircase.

How long has the Cannes Film Festival been running?

The first Cannes Film Festival took place in 1946. The 2024 edition was the 77th, though the festival was not held in 1948, 1950, and 2020 due to various reasons.

What is the significance of standing ovations at Cannes?

Standing ovations are a tradition often timed by journalists. While long ovations (10+ minutes) are seen as strong endorsements, their correlation with eventual award wins is inconsistent.

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