The Cannes Film Festival has awarded its top prize, the Palme d’Or, to Sean Baker’s Anora, a dark comedy about a young exotic dancer who becomes involved with a Russian oligarch’s son.
Anora was selected by a jury led by Barbie director Greta Gerwig out of a Cannes Competition line-up of 22 films which included features by Francis Ford Coppola, David Cronenberg and Paolo Sorrentino. Baker’s previous films include the 2021’s Red Rocket and 2017’s The Florida Project starring Willem Dafoe.
Cannes’ second highest prize, The Grand Prix, was awarded to Payal Kapadia’s feature All We Imagine As Light, marking the first time an Indian director has won the prize.
The jury awarded a special prize to Mohammad Rasoulof’s The Seed of the Sacred Fig, which the director made secretly in Iran. Shortly before the film’s premiere in Cannes, Rasoulof fled Iran after receiving an eight-year prison sentence.
Coralie Fargeat’s body horror film The Substance, starring Demi Moore as a Hollywood actress who goes to extremes to remain youthful, won the best screenplay prize.
Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Perez, a musical about a Mexican cartel boss who transitions from male to female, won two - the jury prize and the best actress prize for its stars Zoe Saldana, Selena Gomez, Karla Sofia Gascon and Adriana Paz.
Jesse Plemons was named best actor for his role in Yorgos Lanthimos’s Kinds of Kindness.
Stephen Nuttall unveiled as new Chair of IBC’s Partnership Board
Stephen Nuttall has been appointed as the new Chair of IBC’s Partnership Board. Made up of representatives from each of the six partner organisations which own IBC (IABM, IEEE, IET, RTS, SCTE and SMPTE), the IBC Partnership Board provides the governance and strategic oversight of IBC.
Saleha Williams appointed CEO of IABM
Saleha Williams has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of IABM.
Comcast sets leadership team for ‘SpinCo’ cable unit
US media and telco giant Comcast has unveiled the leadership team for SpinCo as it prepares to spin off its cable television portfolio later in the year.
Labour exploring ‘alternative funding options’ to BBC licence fee
UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy is reportedly considering scrapping the BBC licence fee at the end of the Corporation's current charter in December 2027.
BBC Director-General Tim Davie to head Creative Cities Convention speakers
BBC Director-General Tim Davie has been lined up as one of the key speakers at this year’s Creative Cities Convention, being held from May 7–8 in Bradford as part of its UK City of Culture 2025 celebrations.
