Awards: 2017 Cannes Film Festival

It was not an exceptional year at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival with mixed reviews from many films including Todd Haynes’ WONDERSTRUCK.  The best film according to the  Almodovar directed jury was THE SQUARE by Swedish writer-director Ruben Ostlund(Force Majeure)who delivered a satire on political correctness. French director Robin Campillo is recognized  for his drama 120 BEATS PER MINUTE about the AIDS activist organization ACT UP. Director Yorgos Lanthimos’ strikes a cord with his masterful thriller KILLING OF A SACRED DEAR(previous film English language–The Lobster) featuring a never better Nicole Kidman and the pitch perfect Colin Farrell. LOVELESS  from acclaimed Russian director, Andrey Zvyagintsev(Leviathan) also feted for his tale of a child’s disappearance.

Cannes Jury chair Almodovar railed against NETFLIX for not releasing its acquisitions in theaters and banned them from future festivals, He also made sure that a woman (Sophia Coppola) won best director for only the second time in 70 years.

Palme d’Or: “The Square”

Grand Prix: “120 Beats Per Minute (BPM)”

Jury Prize: “Loveless”

Best Actress: Diane Kruger, “In the Fade”

Best Actor: Joaquin Phoenix, “You Were Never Really Here”

Best Director: Sofia Coppola, “The Beguiled”

Best Screenplay: “The Killing of a Sacred Deer” and “You Were Never Really Here” (tie)

Camera d’Or: “Jeune Femme/Montparnasse Bienvenue,” directed by Leonor Serraille

70th Anniversary Prize: Nicole Kidman

Short Film Palme d’Or: “Xiao Cheng Er Yue (A Gentle Night),” directed by Qiu Yang

Queer Palm (Feature): “BPM (Beats Per Minute),” Robin Campillo

Queer Palm (Short): “Islands,” Yann Gonzalez

Rob Goald