Cannes Film Festival 2019: Winners and Highlights

Over an 11-day celebration of cinema, the Cannes International Film Festival drew filmmakers and journalists from around the world to the Mediterranean shores of southeastern France. Renowned directors including Quentin Tarantino, Xavier Dolan, Jessica Hausner and Terrence Malick screened new work alongside emerging talents, while festival-goers and critics debated the year’s most talked-about films. The festival culminated in the awards ceremony on 25 May 2019, where the jury presented prizes to the standout films in competition.

This year’s jury was composed of highly respected filmmakers and artists, including Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Pawel Pawlikowski, Yorgos Lanthimos, Elle Fanning and Alice Rohrwacher. Their deliberations honored a variety of voices and cinematic styles, and the festival’s top prize, the Palme d’Or, was awarded to South Korean director Bong Joon-Ho for Parasite.

Bong Joon-Ho, known for films such as Okja and Snowpiercer, received the Palme d’Or in a moment that underlined Cannes’s growing recognition of international cinema. His win followed Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Palme d’Or victory in 2018, marking a consecutive year in which an Asian filmmaker took the festival’s highest honor.

One of the most historic moments of the ceremony was Mati Diop’s Grand Prix win for Atlantics. The French-Senegalese director became the first Black woman to win the prestigious Grand Prix in the festival’s 72-year history, a landmark achievement that sparked widespread attention and discussion across the industry.

The festival also celebrated established auteurs and rising stars. The Dardenne brothers, Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne, were recognized with the Best Director award for their film Le jeune Ahmed (Young Ahmed). British actor Emily Beecham won Best Actress for her performance in Little Joe, adding to the festival’s recognition of powerful performances in contemporary cinema.

Other major awards highlighted a diverse set of films and filmmakers, from intimate character studies to bold genre entries. Celine Sciamma was honored for Best Screenplay for Portrait of a Lady on Fire, a film that received critical acclaim across the festival circuit. Antonio Banderas was named Best Actor for his work in Pain and Glory, while the Jury Prize was shared by Bacurau (directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho and Juliano Dornelles) and Les Misérables (directed by Ladj Ly).

New voices were also spotlighted: the Camera d’Or, awarded to the best first feature film, went to Our Mothers by César Díaz. The Short Film Palme d’Or was awarded to The Distance Between Us and the Sky by Vasilis Kekatos, which also claimed the Queer Palm for short film. Portrait of a Lady on Fire additionally won the Queer Palm for feature film, underscoring the festival’s recognition of LGBTQ+ cinema.

Full List of Winners — Cannes International Film Festival 2019

Palme d’Or – Bong Joon-Ho (Parasite)
Grand Prix – Mati Diop (Atlantics)
Best Director – Jean-Pierre Dardenne & Luc Dardenne (Young Ahmed)
Best Actor – Antonio Banderas (Pain and Glory)
Best Actress – Emily Beecham (Little Joe)
Best Screenplay – Celine Sciamma (Portrait of a Lady on Fire)
Jury Prize – Bacurau (Kleber Mendonça Filho & Juliano Dornelles) and Les Misérables (Ladj Ly)
Camera d’Or – Our Mothers (César Díaz)
Short Film Palme d’Or – The Distance Between Us and the Sky (Vasilis Kekatos)
Queer Palm (Feature) – Portrait of a Lady on Fire (Celine Sciamma)
Queer Palm (Short) – The Distance Between Us and the Sky (Vasilis Kekatos)

The 2019 Cannes Film Festival continued the tradition of showcasing a wide range of cinematic voices, from established auteurs to bold newcomers. The awards reflected both the festival’s international scope and its willingness to recognize groundbreaking work across genres and styles. The recognition of Parasite and the historic win by Mati Diop signaled important moments for global cinema, while other winners highlighted the enduring power of strong direction, writing and acting.

For readers following festival trends, Cannes 2019 delivered a blend of political resonance, formal innovation and memorable performances — a snapshot of contemporary world cinema at one of its most prestigious gatherings.