[Here is Cannes] France's 'Titan' Golden Palm, Lee Byung-hun's Relaxed Award Presentation (Summary)

On-site Coverage of the 74th Cannes Film Festival

[Cannes (France) = Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] The 74th Cannes Film Festival Palme d'Or was awarded to the French film Titan. Although no Korean films were invited to the competition section, the event holds significant meaning in many ways. Director Bong Joon-ho opened the festival, Lee Byung-hun closed it, and Song Kang-ho served as a jury member.

On the 18th at 7:30 PM (local time), the closing ceremony of the 74th Cannes International Film Festival was held at the Lumi?re Theater in Cannes, a city in southern France. Jury member Song Kang-ho and actor Lee Byung-hun attended as award presenters.

The Cannes International Film Festival was held for the first time in 2 years and 2 months since the 72nd festival, where director Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite won the Palme d'Or, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, the festival took place in July instead of the usual May because of the pandemic.

This year’s top prize, the Palme d'Or, was awarded to director Julia Ducournau’s film Titan. Director Julia Ducournau was invited to the competition section for the first time this year and received the honor of winning. Hollywood actress Sharon Stone made a surprise appearance in the competition section, attracting attention.

The Jury Prize was jointly awarded to the Thai film Memoria and the Israeli film Knee of Ahed. The Best Director award went to French director Leos Carax for Annette, which was selected as the opening film. The film is the director’s first English-language work. The director did not attend the ceremony.

The Best Screenplay award was given to Ryusuke Hamaguchi and Takamasa Oe for the Japanese film Drive My Car. The Best Actor award went to Caleb Landry Jones for Nitram (Australia), and the Best Actress award was given to Renate Reinsve for The Worst Person in the World.

Lee Byung-hun became the first Korean actor to attend the Cannes International Film Festival closing ceremony as an award presenter. Among directors, Park Chan-wook has previously served as an award presenter.

On this day, Lee Byung-hun took the stage to present the Best Actress award. He expressed his delight at being there and congratulated all the winners in fluent French with a charming greeting. He then apologized for his limited French and continued in English. He reflected on the special meaning of the festival to him, saying, "This festival (Cannes Film Festival) is very special to me. Director Bong Joon-ho opened the festival, and Song Kang-ho is a jury member."

He also showed a relaxed sense of humor by making a joke about jury president director Spike Lee.

Lee Byung-hun handed the Best Actress trophy to Renate Reinsve, an actress in the Danish film The Worst Person in the World (directed by Joachim Trier).

Jury member Song Kang-ho announced the Best Director award for the film Annette by Leos Carax.

A total of 24 films were invited to compete in this year’s Cannes Film Festival competition section. Song Kang-ho, the lead actor of Parasite, which won the Palme d'Or at the 72nd Cannes Film Festival in 2019, participated as a jury member. At the closing ceremony, Song Kang-ho sat on the jury panel on stage with director Spike Lee and others, watching over the event. Dressed in a black suit, he appeared relaxed on stage. Director Bong Joon-ho attended the opening ceremony this year and declared the opening. He also made a surprise appearance at the "Rendezvous Avec" event, where six directors were selected to share various stories.

No Korean films were invited to the competition section, but director Han Jae-rim’s Emergency Declaration was invited to the non-competition section. Director Hong Sang-soo’s In Front of Your Face was invited to the newly established Premiere section this year. Emergency Declaration was screened for the press on the morning of the 15th at 8:30 AM and officially premiered on the 16th at 10:15 PM at the Lumi?re Grand Theater, the main screening venue of the Cannes Film Festival. Actors Song Kang-ho, Lee Byung-hun, Im Si-wan, and director Han Jae-rim walked the red carpet and received applause. Additionally, in the Cinefondation section, director Yoon Dae-won’s Maemi won second prize.

ssmoly6@asiae.co.kr

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.