79th Cannes Film Festival Awards: 'Fjord' Wins Palme d'Or, Zvyagintsev Urges Putin
The 79th Cannes Film Festival concluded on May 23, 2026, with Cristian Mungiu's 'Fjord' winning the Palme d'Or. The film critiques political polarization through a Romanian evangelical family in Norway. Andrey Zvyagintsev's 'Minotaur' won the Grand Prix; he used his speech to urge Putin to end the Ukraine war. Multiple ties occurred in acting and directing categories. The festival featured strong auteur cinema and low Hollywood presence.
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Norway-set drama 'Fjord' wins Palme d'Or at 79th Cannes Film Festival
Cristian Mungiu's 'Fjord,' a Norway-set drama about political polarization and left-wing fundamentalism, won the Palme d'Or at the 79th Cannes Film Festival, making Mungiu the 10th filmmaker to win the award twice. The film stars Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve as Romanian Evangelicals whose children are taken by Norwegian child services. The Grand Prix went to Andrey Zvyagintsev's 'Minotaur,' a domestic thriller set against Russia's war with Ukraine, with Zvyagintsev directly appealing to Putin to end the war. Other winners included Pawel Pawlikowski and Javier Ambrossi/Javier Calvo sharing best director, Virginie Efira and Tao Okamoto sharing best actress, and Emmanuel Macchia and Valentin Campagne sharing best actor. The festival was noted for low Hollywood participation and muted buzz, but Neon extended its streak to seven consecutive Palme d'Or wins.
https://www.manilatimes.netNorway-set drama about political polarization 'Fjord' wins Palme d'Or at Cannes
Cristian Mungiu's Norway-set drama 'Fjord' won the Palme d'Or at the 79th Cannes Film Festival, marking the Romanian director's second win after '4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days' in 2007. The film, starring Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve, follows Romanian Evangelicals who move to Norway and have their children taken by child services for spanking. Mungiu described the film as a critique of 'left-wing fundamentalism' and a pledge against all forms of fundamentalism. The win extends Neon's unprecedented streak of seven consecutive Palme d'Or winners. The Grand Prix went to Andrey Zvyagintsev's 'Minotaur,' a domestic thriller set against Russia's war with Ukraine.
NBC News Top StoriesRomania's Mungiu wins top prize at glitzy Cannes finale
At the 79th Cannes Film Festival closing ceremony on May 23, 2026, Romanian director Cristian Mungiu won the Palme d'Or for his drama 'Fjord', which challenges left-wing prejudices by sympathetically portraying a devoutly Christian Norwegian-Romanian couple investigated for child abuse in a remote Norwegian village. The film, starring Renate Reinsve and Sebastian Stan, was praised as a 'masterful drama of our polarized times'. Russian director Andrey Zvyagintsev won the Grand Prix for 'Minotaur', a family drama about a businessman caught up in Russia's Ukraine invasion, and urged Putin to end the 'carnage'. Other winners included shared Best Actress awards for Virginie Efira and Tao Okamoto, shared Best Actor awards for Emmanuel Macchia and Valentin Campagne, and shared Best Director prizes for Pawel Pawlikowski and Javier Ambrossi/Javier Calvo. Rwandan filmmaker Marie-Clementine Dusabejambo won the Camera d'Or for her genocide drama 'Ben'Imana'.
https://kuwaittimes.comCristian Mungiu's 'Fjord' Wins Palme d'Or at Cannes 2026; Zvyagintsev Calls on Putin to End Ukraine War
The 79th Cannes Film Festival concluded with Cristian Mungiu's political drama 'Fjord' winning the Palme d'Or. The film explores the clash between progressive and traditional values through a Romanian evangelical family in Norway. Andrey Zvyagintsev's 'Minotaur' won the Grand Prix, and the director used his acceptance speech to directly address Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging him to 'stop the carnage' in Ukraine, which has lasted over four years. The Best Director award was shared by Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo for 'La Bola Negra' and Pawel Pawlikowski for 'Fatherland'. Pawlikowski also spoke about cinema's role in resisting political pressure. Quebecois filmmaker Xavier Dolan paid tribute to Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish before announcing the award. The festival featured a strong emphasis on auteur-driven cinema, films about war and displacement, and a lighter Hollywood presence.
Latest News From Euronews | Euronews RSS2026 Cannes Film Festival: See All The Winners
The 79th Cannes Film Festival concluded with an awards ceremony on May 23, 2026, after 12 days of screenings. The nine-person jury, led by South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook and including Chloe Zhao, Demi Moore, and Stellan Skarsgård, awarded multiple ties. The Palme d'Or went to Cristian Mungiu's 'Fjord'. The Grand Prix was awarded to Andrey Zvyagintsev's 'Minotaur'. Best Director was a tie between Pawel Pawlikowski ('Fatherland') and Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi ('The Black Ball'). Best Actress was shared by Virginie Efira and Tao Okamoto for 'All of a Sudden', and Best Actor was split between Emmanuel Macchia and Valentin Campagne for 'Coward'. Other winners included Valeska Grisebach's 'The Dreamed Adventure' (Jury Prize) and Clémentine Dusabejambo's 'Ben’Imana' (Camera d’Or). The Un Certain Regard section also announced its winners, including Sandra Wollner's 'Everytime' for Best Film.
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