The Cannes Film Festival wraps up this Saturday, with a satirical Iranian film about political prisoners and a Ukrainian drama examining authoritarianism emerging as top contenders for the coveted Palme d'Or.

After nearly two weeks of dazzling red carpets and moments of political commentary, French actress Juliette Binoche and the festival jury will announce the winner among 22 films competing for one of cinema’s most prestigious awards.

Among the best-reviewed entries are It Was Just an Accident by Iranian director Jafar Panahi, and Two Prosecutors by Ukrainian filmmaker Sergei Loznitsa — a powerful exploration of despotism.

On the festival’s final day of screenings, The Guardian awarded a rare five-star review to Young Mothers, a poignant portrayal of teenage motherhood by Belgium’s Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, both two-time Palme d'Or winners.

Also capturing critical acclaim are Sound of Falling, a German drama following four generations of women, and the Brazilian period piece The Secret Agent, set in the 1970s.

Many attendees were charmed by Richard Linklater’s feel-good feature Nouvelle Vague, a tribute to iconic French director Jean-Luc Godard.

Politics and Presence
Outside the main competition, the French Riviera was abuzz not only with A-listers but also with political discourse. American director Todd Haynes criticized the “barbaric US presidency,” while Chilean-American actor Pedro Pascal admitted it was “scary” to speak out against former President Donald Trump.

The ongoing war in Gaza was also on many minds. According to organizers, over 900 actors and filmmakers signed an open letter condemning what they described as “genocide” in the Palestinian territories. Notable signatories include Juliette Binoche, Schindler’s List actor Ralph Fiennes, US indie director Jim Jarmusch, and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who was in town for the premiere of a documentary featuring him.

Early Awards Announced
Several prizes have already been awarded. The first-ever Chechen film to screen at Cannes won Best Documentary, while the documentary on Assange, The Six Billion Dollar Man, received a Special Jury Prize on Friday.

In the Un Certain Regard section, Chilean filmmaker Diego Cespedes won the top award for The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo, which follows a group of trans women living in a desert mining town in the 1980s.

French actor-turned-director Hafsia Herzi took home the unofficial Queer Palm for The Last One, a coming-of-age story about a teenage Muslim lesbian growing up in Paris.
“I wanted to show that there are no borders when it comes to friendship or love,” Herzi said.

Earlier in the week, Useful Ghost — a bold Thai LGBTQ ghost story with a sharp political edge — claimed the top prize in the Critics’ Week sidebar.
“We need more diverse queer stories to be told,” said director Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke.

On a Lighter Note
Bringing a touch of levity to the festival, the Palm Dog award — dedicated to canine performances — went to The Love That Remains, an Icelandic family drama.
The film features Panda, the pet sheepdog of director Hlynur Pálmason, in a tender tale of a couple navigating separation and its effects on their family. | BGNES