Bong Joon-ho wins the Palme d’Or at Cannes

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

The 72nd edition of the Cannes Film Festival came to a close today with just president Alejandro González Iñarritu handing the much coveted Palme d'Or over to PARASITE director Bong Joon-ho. A politically charged thriller, the latest film from the South Korean director sees him reuniting with longtime collaborator Song Kang-ho, the star of both THE HOST and SNOWPIERCER. The film also sees Bong teaming back up with DP Kyung-pyo Hong, the cinematographer on Bong's 2009 movie MOTHER, who then went on to shoot total bangers THE WAILING and BURNING.

Speaking on behalf of the jury in regards to PARASITE, Iñárritu said, “We all shared the mystery of the unexpected way this film took us through different genres and spoke in a funny, humorous, tender way — with no judgment — of something so relevant and urgent, so global in such a local film, with such a beautiful efficiency of media, and an understanding of what film really is. We were all fascinated when we saw it, and it kept growing and growing: that’s why it was a unanimous decision.”

Check out the complete list of winners below!

Palme d’Or: PARASITE, Bong Joon-ho
Grand Prix: ATLANTICS, Mati Diop
Jury Prize (tie): LES MISÉRABLES, Ladj Ly, and Bacurau, Kleber Mendonça Filho, Juliano Dornelles
Best Actress: Emily Beecham, LITTLE JOE
Best Actor: Antonio Banderas, PAIN & GLORY
Best Director: Jean-Pierre & Luc Dardenne, THE YOUNG AHMED
Best Screenplay: Céline Sciamma, PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE
Special Mention of the Jury: IT MUST BE HEAVEN, Elia Suleiman
Camera d’Or: OUR MOTHERS, César Díaz
Short Film Palme d’Or: THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US AND THE SKY, Vasilis Kekatos
Special Mention of the Jury: MONSTRUO DIOS, Agustina San
Queer Palm (Feature): PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE, Céline Sciamma
Queer Palm (Short): THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US AND THE SKY, Vasilis Kekatos