Sophia Coppola Makes History at 70th Annual Cannes Film Festival

Oscar-winner Sofia Coppola made Cannes Film Festival history  becoming the second woman in the event’s 70-year history to win best director for her Focus Features release The Beguiled. Previously, Soviet director Yuliva Solntseva won for her 1961 war drama Chronicle of Flaming Years about the Russian’s resistance to the 1941 Nazi occupation.

Coppola wasn’t the only woman winning big at Cannes in 2017, The Beguiled's lead actress Nicole Kidman won a special 70th Anniversary award, while filmmaker Lynne Ramsay’s You Were Never Really Here tied for best screenplay with Yorgos Lanthimos’ The Killing of a Sacred Deer.

Earlier this week while hosting the Cannes Film Festival 70th Anniversary celebration, Oscar nominee Isabelle Huppert snarked, “70 Years, 76 Palme d’ors, but only one has gone to a woman — no comment.” She was of course referring to The Piano director Jane Campion, who still remains the only woman to win the Palme d’Or 24 years ago.

2017 was a competitive year with reports of several standing ovations for films including The Meyerowitz Stories from director Noah Baumbach and Netflix's Okja despite jury president Pedro Almodovar's throwing the streaming service's program presence into question.

However, It was The Square which reigned supreme being awarded the festival's top honour of the Palme d'Or by jury members including Jessica Chastain and Will Smith.   From Force Majeure director Ruben Östlund, the film is a satirical comedy starring Dominic West and Elisabeth Moss.

One of these days I will make it to France in person instead of relying on the livestream results.  Until then, you can find a full list of all winners below.

Palme d’Or: Ruben Östlund – The Square

Gran Prix: Robin Campillo – 120 Beats Per Minute

Jury Prize: Andrey Zvyagintsev – Loveless

Best Director: Sofia Coppola – The Beguiled

Best Actor: Joaquin Phoenix – You Were Never Really Here

Best Actress: Diane Kruger – In the Fade

Best Screenplay: Yorgos Lanthimos – The Killing of a Sacred Deer, Lynne Ramsay – You Were Never Really Here

Camera d’Or: Léonor Sérraille – Jeune Femme

Short Film Palme d’Or: Qiu Yang – A Gentle Night

Special 70th Anniversary Award: Nicole Kidman

2017 Un Certain Regard winners:

Un Certain Regard Prize: Mohammad Rasoulof – A Man of Integrity

Best Actress: Jasmine Trinca – Fortunata

Best Poetic Narrative: Mathieu Amalric – Barbara

Best Direction: Taylor Sheridan – Wind River

Jury Prize: Michel Franco – April’s Daughter

2017 International Critics Week winners:

Nespresso Grand Prize: Emmanuel Gras – Makala

France 4 Visionary Award: Fellipe Gamarano Barbosa – Gabriel and the Mountain

Leica Cine Discovery Prize for Short Film: Laura Ferrés – Los Desheredados

Gan Foundation Support for Distribution Award: Fellipe Gamarano Barbosa – Gabriel and the Mountain

SACD Award: Léa Mysius – Ava

Canal+ Award: Aleksandra Terpińska – The Best Fireworks

2017 Director’s Fortnight winners:

Art Cinema Award: Chloé Zhao – The Rider

SACD Award: Claire Denis – Let the Sunshine In, Philippe Garrel – Lover for a Day

Europa Cinemas Label Award: Jonas Carpignano – A Ciambra

Illy Prize for Short Film: Benoit Grimalt – Back to Genoa City