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France rivals United States in the Palme d’Or stakes

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Published
03/28/2022

While the Academy Awards grab most of the headlines in the movie world, genuine film buffs know the place to be and be seen is the Cannes Festival.

The luxurious event is celebration of global filmmaking, bringing together the best exponents of the art from across the world.

The standout prize is the coveted Palme d’Or, which has been awarded to some of the finest directors ever to work in the movie industry.

Cannes Festival director Thierry Fremaux describes the award as ‘unique and wonderful’ and yearns for it to be the ‘grail that makes filmmakers dizzy with desire’.

Given its status amongst the filmmaking community, it is little wonder that the Palme d’Or attracts plenty of media interest throughout the year.

That point is perfectly highlighted by a recent research study conducted by Betway Insider which took an in-depth look at which cities and countries possessed star quality.

Filmmaking was one of the categories analysed, with the study revealing that the United States and France are responsible for the most Palme d’Or winners.

The US has birthed 23 winners of the prestigious prize – a tally that is no real surprise when you consider the country is home to Hollywood.

Noteworthy winners include New York-born Martin Scorsese, while Clint Eastwood is California’s only top prize-winning contribution to the Cannes Festival.

Minnesota is responsible for two Palme d’Or directors, with brothers Joel and Ethan Coen scooping the top prize with Barton Fink.

Michael Moore and Francis Ford Coppola are other notable US winners of the Palme d’Or, both of whom were born in the state of Michigan.

As home to the glitz and glamour of the Cannes Festival, it comes as no surprise to find that 17 Palme d’Or winning filmmakers were born in France.

Eight of these came from Paris, highlighting the influence the capital city has on culture both at home and globally.

Other notable French-born winners of the prize include Ben Hur director William Wyler, who was born in the city of Mulhouse near the Swiss and German borders.

Italian filmmakers have also shone at the Cannes Festival, with the country producing 14 winners of the Palme d’Or.

They include La Dolce Vita director Federico Fellini, who was born in Rimini, plus decorated directors from the cities of Rome, Milan, Naples and more.

English filmmakers have also proven successful at the Festival, with six directors from those shores claiming the top prize.

They include legendary Lawrence of Arabia director, David Lean, who was born in London, and social-realist auteur Mike Leigh, from Welwyn Garden City in Hertfordshire.

Just three Palme d’Or winners came from Germany including Wim Wenders from Dusseldorf, and multilingual director Michael Haneke, who was born in Munich.

Predicting who will claim the top prize this year is no easy task, with plenty of exceptional filmmakers in the running to add their name to the roll of honour.

New York-born James Gray has been touted as a possible candidate, with the star-studded Armageddon Time expected to receive rave reviews.

Success in this year’s Palme d’Or would be particularly special, with the glamourous event set to celebrate its 75th anniversary.

The enduring popularity of the Festival is perhaps best summed in an interview on the event’s official website by director Thierry Fremaux.

He said: “The prestige of the Cannes belongs to a very complex trade secret. While maintaining a solid connection with the past, the Festival is very ready to take on board new and original concepts.

Over the years it has evolved, all the while seeking to preserve its core values – the celebration of film, the discovery of new talent and the bringing together of professionals and journalists from around the world with the aim of contributing to the creation and distribution of films.”

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