Cannes Rebounds From Outage as Palme d’Or Ceremony Begins/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Cannes Film Festival concludes amid drama: power outage, speculation over top prize. Jury led by Juliette Binoche to select from 22 films; Neon eyes sixth straight Palme. “Sentimental Value” and “It Was Just an Accident” among top contenders.
Cannes 2025 Awards Night: Quick Looks
- Power Restored, Ceremony Proceeds: A major outage, suspected arson, hit southeastern France Saturday but backup power kept the show on schedule.
- Star-Powered Finale: Celebrities including Jane Fonda, Cate Blanchett, and Elle Fanning walked the red carpet as Cannes closed with glamour.
- Neon Chasing History: Indie distributor Neon, winner of the last five Palme d’Ors, could extend its record with acclaimed entries like Sentimental Value and The Secret Agent.
- Jury Led by Binoche: French actress Juliette Binoche heads the nine-member jury tasked with picking the Palme d’Or winner.
- Top Picks Emerge: Standing ovation data and critical buzz put Sentimental Value, It Was Just an Accident, and Two Prosecutors in the spotlight.
Cannes Rebounds From Outage as Palme d’Or Ceremony Begins
Deep Look
Palme d’Or Awaits: Power Outage Can’t Dim Cannes’ Spotlight
CANNES, FRANCE — The 78th Cannes Film Festival neared its crescendo Saturday as the famed Croisette shimmered under restored power and cinematic anticipation. Earlier in the day, a significant power outage plunged parts of southeastern France into darkness after suspected arson damaged a high-voltage line. Festival organizers confirmed that emergency systems kept the lights on at the Palais des Festivals, and the ceremony went on as planned.
By early evening, full electricity was restored, and stars began descending the red carpet for the festival’s final event: awarding the coveted Palme d’Or.
Neon’s Quest for Six
All eyes were on Neon, the indie distributor that has stunned the festival for five years running, backing winners like Parasite, Titane, and Anatomy of a Fall. This year, Neon’s U.S. distribution slate includes frontrunners like:
- Sentimental Value by Joachim Trier (Norway)
- It Was Just an Accident by Jafar Panahi (Iran)
- The Secret Agent by Kleber Mendonça Filho (Brazil)
Trier’s Sentimental Value, which received a rousing 15-minute standing ovation, has emerged as a fan favorite. Lead actress Renate Reinsve, previously Cannes’ Best Actress winner in 2021, delivers a performance many believe could win her a second major honor.
Jury’s Tight Decision
Jury president Juliette Binoche and her panel — including Alba Rohrwacher and Leïla Slimani — must select from 22 films in competition. Other major contenders include:
- Two Prosecutors, a Stalinist-era legal drama by Sergei Loznitsa (Ukraine)
- Romeria, a coastal family drama from Spain’s Carla Simón
- Nouvelle Vague, Richard Linklater’s homage to the French New Wave
- Eddington, Ari Aster’s meditative U.S. entry
Returning Palme laureates Julia Ducournau (Alpha) and Belgium’s Dardenne brothers (Rosetta, L’Enfant) are also in contention. Ducournau aims to become the first woman to win Cannes twice.
Political Shadows on the Riviera
Cannes 2025 unfolded amid global unease, with geopolitics often leaking onto the red carpet. U.S. President Donald Trump’s floated proposal to impose 100% tariffs on foreign films generated industry blowback.
“Can you hold up a movie in customs?” quipped Wes Anderson at a press event for The Phoenician Scheme.
Despite these tensions, the festival held its position as cinema’s grandest stage — a marketplace, protest platform, and premiere hub rolled into one.
Career-Making Moments
The stakes remain sky-high. Last year’s Palme winner Anora went on to sweep five Academy Awards, including Best Picture. A win tonight could redefine a director’s trajectory or reframe an actor’s legacy.
Cannes has proven time and again to be a launchpad for global acclaim. And as the curtain prepares to fall, the industry holds its breath: Who will take home the Palme d’Or?
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