The 2025 edition of the Cannes Festival celebrates an icon of world cinema: the Palme d’Or, which this year blows its 70 candles. Since its creation in 1955, this trophy has become one of the most coveted awards of the seventh art, synonymous with excellence and consecration for filmmakers around the world. Each year, she distinguishes the best film from the official competition, chosen by a prestigious international jury.
A rich and eventful story
Before the Palme d’Or became the absolute symbol of the Cannes Film Festival, the supreme reward brought another name. Between 1946 and 1954, the winning films received a Grand Prix of the International Film Festivala trophy with a unique design at each edition. But in 1954, the organizing committee decided to create a more sustainable and immediately recognizable distinction. A competition is launched with several jewelers, and it is ultimately the design of Lucienne Lazon that is selected. Inspired by the coat of arms of the city of Cannes, the famous golden palm officially was born in 1955 and was attributed for the first time to the film Marty by Delbert Mann.
However, the Palme d’Or experienced an interruption in 1964. The festival decided to temporarily return to the Grand Prixdeemed more solemn and also for lack of financial means. This parenthesis lasts until 1974, before the palm was definitively reintroduced into 1975since then becoming the only major distinction of the festival.
An exceptional trophy, made by Chopard
Since 1998, the prestigious Swiss house Chopard is responsible for making the Palme d’Or. The latter, redesigned by Caroline Scheufele, is in 18 carat gold, mounted on a rock crystal cushion carved by hand. Its creation requires careful work weeks, mobilizing the best craftsmen. Interesting fact: Each year, Chopard manufactures two copies of the trophy, in anticipation of a possible ex -aequo or in the event of loss of the original trophy.
Theo Angelopoulos is the first to win for his film Eternity and one day The Palme d’Or as we know it today.
In 2022, to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Cannes Film Festival, Chopard created a unique and luxurious version of the palm, set with diamonds. I had also detailed the whole story of this trophy in my article “Cannes 2022 – A palm of gold set with diamonds on the occasion of the 75th anniversary”,, That I invite you to read to find out more about the history and manufacture of this jewel of cinema.
Some key figures and anecdotes on the golden palm
In 70 years, the Palme d’Or has crowned masterpieces of world cinema and marked the history of the festival. Here are some figures and significant facts:
- 65 golden palms and 36 Grands Prix have been awarded since the creation of the festival.
- 9 directors won the Palme d’Or twice ::
- Francis Ford Coppola (Secret conversation in 1974 and Revelation Now in 1979)
- August ball (Shovel the conqueror in 1988 and The best intentions in 1992)
- Emir Kusturica (Dad is on a business trip in 1985 and Underground in 1995)
- Shōhei Imamura (Narayama’s ballad in 1983 and The eel in 1997)
- Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne (Rosetta in 1999 and The child in 2005)
- Michael Haneke (The white ribbon in 2009 and Love in 2012)
- Ken Loach (The wind rises in 2006 and Me, Daniel Blake in 2016)
- Ruben Östlund (The Square in 2017 and Filterless in 2022))
- The countries that have won the most golden palms and great prices are:
- The United States :: 23 awards (9 Grands Prix, 14 Palmes d’Or), the last in 2024 for Anora from Sean Baker.
- France :: 17 awards (6 Grands Prix, 11 golden palms). Two of these fins were allocated to directors.
- Italy :: 12 awards (7 Grands Prix, 5 Palmes d’Or).
- United Kingdom :: 10 awards (6 Grands Prix, 4 golden palms). The British obtained a Grand Prix from the first edition of the Festival in 1946, for Brief meeting by David Lean.
- The youngest winner:
In 1956, Louis Malle won the Palme d’Or for his documentary The world of silenceco-elderly by Jacques-Yves Cousteau. Then aged 24, he became the youngest winner of this prize, a record that he still has today. Steven Soderbergh is close to the Talonne, which took the Palme d’Or in 1989 for Sex, lies and video at the age of 26.
- The only Palme d’Or for an Arab film:
On May 23, 1975, Algeria won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival with the film Chronicle of the years of embers, Directed by Mohammed Lakhdar-Hamina. To this day, this is The only golden palm attributed to an Arab film.
In 2013, the director of Tunisian origin Abdellatif Kechiche won the Palme d’Or for his film Adèle’s life – Chapter 1 & 2which is a co -production between France, Belgium and Spain.
- Women and Palme d’Or:
For a long time, the Palme d’Or remained a mainly male reward. It was not until 1993 to see a crowned woman: Jane Campion won the palm for The piano lessonalthough she had to share it with Chen Kaige to Goodbye my concubine. It took almost 30 years for a woman to be rewarded again, with Julia Ducournau and her film Titanium in 2021. Two years later, In 2023, Justine Triet entered history with Anatomy of a fall.
Today, Only three directors won the golden palma figure that still underlines persistent inequality in the world of cinema, despite an evolution of mentalities and increasingly inclusive selections.
Mythical speeches and unforgettable moments
The golden palm is often synonymous with memorable discourse. Some winners have marked the history of the festival by their emotion, their commitment or their surprising statements.
In 2009,, Michael Haneke receives the Palme d’Or for The white ribbon And delivers a sober but powerful discourse on the responsibility of cinema in the face of history.
In 2019when Bong Joon-Ho receives the palm for Parasitehe pays tribute to Martin Scorsesehis idol, citing his words: “The most personal is always the most creative”. The room then offers him a standing ovation, under the eyes of a visibly moved scorsese.
In 2023,, Justine Triet Take advantage of his coronation to denounce French government policies and defend the place of artists in society, A speech that has aroused many reactions.
An ever stronger symbol in 2025
After 70 years of existencethe golden palm is more than ever a symbol of prestige, talent and recognition. Its history, marked by developments and strong moments, continues to inspire and fascinate moviegoers around the world. Who will be the next winner to register their name on the prize list? Answer in May 2025, on the stage of the Palais des Festivals de Cannes.
In the meantime, I invite you to rediscover the detailed history of the Palme d’Or in my article “” Cannes 2022 – A golden palm set with diamonds on the occasion of the 75th anniversary“” .
78th Edition of the Cannes Film Festival will be held from May 13 to 24, 2025.
Neïla Driss
