Selena Gomez, who is better known for her work in the music industry, has won the coveted ‘Best Actress’ award at the Cannes Film Festival, winning thanks to her role in the movie Emilia Pérez, which has been acquired by Netflix.
Gomez took home the award alongside the entire ensemble of female cast members in the movie, with the French film festival recognising each of Zoe Saldana, Karla Sofía Gascón and Adriana Paz in addition to Gomez. A comedy crime flick, Emilia Pérez was one of the biggest surprises of the festival, with the film following a lawyer who helps a crime boss retire and transition into becoming a woman.
Also earning Cannes’ ‘Jury Prize’ and a coveted ‘Palme d’Or’ nomination, Audiard missed out on the latter to the American director Sean Baker, who claimed the award for Anora, a comedy-drama about a sex worker in LA. Having long been in and around discussions of proper awards success, Baker’s win is long-deserved, with the director having also helmed such recent successes as 2021’s Red Rocket and 2017’s Florida Project.
Speaking about the ‘Jury Prize’ win, Audiard told festival press: “I don’t know if I have a winning formula, formulas are the opposite of cinema. My attitude to time is probably part of the answer as I started directing quite late. I don’t build things in a linear way, but in a constantly renewed present. It’s the only way I can keep making films”.
After its rousing reception at Cannes, Emilia Pérez has now been acquired by Netflix and is due to be released later this year.
Female-led stories proved to be the highlight of Cannes 2024, with Emilia Pérez and Anora being joined by Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine as Light, which claimed the festival’s Grand Prix’ prize.
“I’ve had the joy of working with wonderful actresses who have become close friends,” the director stated at the festival, “What we experienced in real life has been brought to life on screen. It’s great that more and more films are being made by women. Things are gradually changing and becoming more inclusive. Great films are being made in India and each state has a very strong industry, but it took thirty years for an Indian film to be selected again at Cannes”.
