Cannes honors 'los Javis' with Directing Award, gives second Palme d'Or to Mungiu

The Cannes Film Festival honored Spanish directors Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo, known as 'los Javis,' with the Directors' Award for their film 'La bola negra.' The jury, presided over by filmmaker Park Chan-Wook, also presented Romanian director Cristian Mungiu with his second Palme d'Or for 'Fjord.'

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Minotauro

The Grand Jury Prize was awarded to Russian director Andrei Zviaguintsev for his film 'Minotauro.' During his acceptance speech, Zviaguintsev addressed Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging him to end the "carnage" in Ukraine. Mungiu also made a political statement upon receiving his Palme d'Or, describing his film as a "risk" taken to "raise a voice" against societal dangers and the "fractured, radicalized" state of modern societies.

Mungiu emphasized that his film is a commitment against "all forms of fundamentalism" and a message of "tolerance, inclusion, empathy." He noted that while these are admirable words, they need to be applied more frequently. The award for best screenplay went to Emmanuel Marre for 'Notre Salut,' while Valeska Grisebach received the Jury Prize for 'Das Geträumte Abenteuer.' Best actress awards were shared by Virginie Efira and Tao Okamoto for their roles in Rysuke Hamaguchi's 'Soudain.'

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This film is a commitment against all forms of fundamentalism, it is a message of tolerance, inclusion, empathy. These are wonderful words that we all like, but we must apply them more often.

Emmanuel Machia and Valentin Campagne won best actor for 'Coward.' The Directors' Award, considered the third most prestigious prize at Cannes, marks a significant achievement for 'los Javis' in their festival debut. They shared the award with Polish director Pavel Pawlikowski, who won for 'Fatherland.' An emotional Calvo acknowledged fellow Spanish directors Pedro Almodóvar and Rodrigo Sorogoyen, calling them "masters and fellow travelers."

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Art is a vehicle for empathy. The film speaks of humanity, of seeing the other as a human being, of understanding them, comprehending them, loving them.