CANNES, France — Diego Céspedes’ film, “The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo,” has been awarded the top honor in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival, as announced by the jury on Friday. The film tells the story of an 11-year-old girl navigating life in a queer family set against the backdrop of a small Chilean mining town during the early 1980s. The narrative unfolds amid rising anxiety over a perplexing disease alleged to spread through looks exchanged between men.
In addition to Céspedes’ triumph, the Jury Prize was awarded to Simón Mesa Soto for his film “A Poet,” which claimed second place. The directing award was given to Tarzan and Arab Nasser for “Once Upon a Time in Gaza.” Performance honors were shared between Cléo Diara for “I Only Rest in the Storm” and Frank Dillane for “Urchin.” Harry Lighton secured the best screenplay accolade for “Pillion.”
Un Certain Regard is recognized for showcasing films from emerging directors while often highlighting avant-garde and experimental projects. This year’s section included the directorial debuts of well-known actors such as Kristen Stewart, who directed “The Chronology of Water,” Scarlett Johansson’s “Eleanor the Great,” and Harris Dickinson’s “Urchin.”
The awards were decided by a jury led by British writer-director Molly Manning Walker, along with panel members including director Louise Courvoisier, film festival director Vanja Kaludjercic, writer-director Roberto Minervini, and actor Nahuel Perez Biscayart. Walker previously earned the top award at Cannes two years ago, with Courvoisier and Minervini having won in the previous year’s competition.
In additional highlights from the festival, Hasan Hadi’s “The President’s Cake” garnered the People’s Choice Award in the Directors’ Fortnight sidebar. Meanwhile, Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke’s “A Useful Ghost” took home the jury award in the Critics’ Week segment. Michel van der Aa’s immersive work “From Dust” was recognized as the top entry in the Cannes Immersive competition.
Honoring a lighthearted theme, an Icelandic Sheepdog named Panda, featured in the film “The Love That Remains,” received the Palm Dog award, celebrating the best canine performance of the festival.
The event will culminate in a ceremony on Saturday evening, where other prestigious awards, including the coveted Palme d’Or, will be presented.
The awards highlighted throughout the festival included recognition for various categories. In the Un Certain Regard section, “The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo” received the Grand Prix, while “Pillion” claimed the best screenplay award. Other notable achievements included awards in the immersive competition and accolades for short films.
This year’s Cannes Festival continues to embrace diverse storytelling while bringing innovative voices to the forefront of the cinematic landscape.
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