Sean Baker's 'Anora' Wins Palme d'Or at 77th Cannes Film Festival

The 77th Cannes Film Festival, held under the presidency of Greta Gerwig, awarded the Palme d'Or to Sean Baker's 'Anora', a New York thriller centered on a stripper played by Mikey Madison. The festival, marked by a subdued atmosphere on the Croisette, concluded with a ceremony hosted by Camille Cottin, who delivered a monologue on cinema accompanied by Star Wars music. The Special Jury Prize went to Mohammad Rasoulof for 'The Seed of the Sacred Fig', with the Iranian director dedicating the award to his crew under pressure from the Islamic Republic's secret services. The Best Actress award was shared collectively by Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez, and Adriana Paz for 'Emilia Perez', directed by Jacques Audiard. Gascón dedicated the prize to trans people suffering from hatred. Francis Ford Coppola presented a Career Palme d'Or to George Lucas, recalling Lucas's early days as a student. Other winners included Grand Prix to Payal Kapadia for 'All We Imagine as Light', Best Director to Miguel Gomes for 'Grand Tour', Best Actor to Jesse Plemons for 'Kinds of Kindness', and the Camera d'Or to Halfdan Ullmann Tondel for 'Armand'. Honorary Palmes were awarded to Meryl Streep and Studio Ghibli. The festival's selection reflected global political tensions, with films addressing freedom and resilience.