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Cannes Film Festival Closes with Surprise Palme d’Or Winner and Hollywood Absences

Cannes, France

May 28, 2025 (Updated: January 21, 2026) 1 Center Neutral General

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TheWkly Analysis

Cannes, France: The 78th Cannes Film Festival awarded the Palme d’Or to Adèle Kayinda’s “La Terre Nue,” a Franco-Congolese ecological drama—an unexpected triumph over established auteurs. Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda took the Grand Prix for “Two Sparrows.” Hollywood presence was diminished due to production delays, though some stars (Natalie Portman, Shah Rukh Khan) attended. Jury president Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie lauded the festival’s focus on urgent social issues and rising female filmmakers.

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What this means for you:

•	In the next 2–4 weeks, watch for distribution deals—some acclaimed titles might hit streaming or limited theaters soon.
•	Over 1–2 months, see if your local art cinema hosts any Cannes showings—some minor releases find quick festival-to-theater turnarounds.
•	If you’re a film enthusiast, track festival buzz, as it often predicts future award-season contenders.
•	Traveling cinephiles might plan for next year’s Cannes if fully open to global visitors again.

Key Entities

• Adèle Kayinda: Director of the Palme d’Or winner “La Terre Nue.”
• Hirokazu Kore-eda: Grand Prix recipient for “Two Sparrows.”
• Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: Jury president, celebrating environmental and social themes.

Multi-Perspective Analysis

Left-Leaning View

(No major coverage).

Centrist View

Focuses on the festival’s outcomes and global cinematic trends.

Right-Leaning View

(No major coverage).

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