The 44-year-old filmmaker succeeds Jane Campion ("The Piano Lesson", 1993) and Julia Ducournau ("Titanium", 2021), confirming the slow movement towards equality in a film industry historically dominated by men.

On receiving her award, the filmmaker strongly denounced the way the French government has "shockingly denied" the movement against pension reform.

"This domineering power scheme, increasingly uninhibited, is breaking out in several areas," she added, believing that the government was also seeking to "break the cultural exception without which (she) would not be there today."

Justine Triet reaches the top of cinema after four films, including "Sibyl", already selected at Cannes and as many portraits of women.

French cinema in the spotlight

This new coronation of a young French director also testifies to the success of French achievements in international festivals, with the Golden Lion awarded to Audrey Diwan in 2021 in Venice for "The Event" and the Golden Bear in February to Nicolas Philibert for "Sur l'adamant".

Cambodian director Pham An Thien receives the Caméra d'Or, in Cannes, for the film "The Golden Butterfly Tree", May 27, 2023 © CHRISTOPHE SIMON / AFP

The jury, chaired by Ruben Östlund and which also included Julia Ducournau, chose a film that tells the story of the trial of a widow (Sandra Hüller) accused at the assizes of having killed her husband. The opportunity to dissect the power dynamics within a couple of wealthy artists and to expose the social prejudices faced by independent women.

The jury also sent a contemporary message about the appalling banality of evil, awarding the Grand Prize to Jonathan Glazer for "The Zone of Interest", about the daily life of the Nazi commander of Auschwitz, a radical work.

The Best Director Award went to Tran Anh Hùng for "The Passion of Dodin Bouffant", a period film about French gastronomy with Benoît Magimel, and the jury prize went to Aki Kaurismäki for "Les feuilles mortes".

Turkish actress Merve Dizdar dedicated her acting award in Nuri Bilge Ceylan's "Dry Herbs" "to all women who are fighting to overcome the difficulties that exist in this world."

Turkish actress Merve Dizdar receives the Best Actress Award for her role in "Kuru Otlar Ustune", at the 76th Cannes Film Festival, May 27, 2023 © CHRISTOPHE SIMON / AFP

The Best Actor award went to Koji Yakusho for his role as a public toilet cleaner in Tokyo in Wim Wenders' dreamlike film "Perfect Days".

Before the presentation of the screenplay award to Sakamoto Yuji for "Monster" by Kore-eda, American actor John C. Reilly was silent on stage in tribute "to all those who write and give birth to great films", in the midst of a strike of screenwriters in Hollywood.

The jury of the Swedish Östlund had to decide between 21 filmmakers, including 7 female directors. This list concludes the 76th edition, chaired for the first time by Iris Knobloch, formerly of Warner.

American actor and president of the Un Certain Regard section, John C. Reilly, will present the Best Screenplay Award at the 76th Cannes Film Festival, May 27, 2023 © CHRISTOPHE SIMON / AFP

It was marked by controversies over the comeback of Johnny Depp, after his trials for defamation around accusations of domestic violence, by a strong presence of the cinema of the African continent, and young directors.

One of them, Molly Manning Walker received the Un Certain Regard Award for "How To Have Sex", and two others share the Golden Eye for best documentary, Kadib Abyad "The Mother of All Lies" and Kaouther Ben Hania ("The Daughters of Olfa", on the radicalization of Tunisian adolescent girls).

The edition was also marked by a new demonstration of the honeymoon between Cannes and Hollywood: in 12 days, the red carpet will have welcomed Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro (for "Killers of the Flower Moon") or Harrison Ford, who came to bid farewell to "Indiana Jones".

Japanese actor Koji Yakusho (r) receives his Best Actor Award from Iranian actress Zar Amir-Ebrahimi, at the 76th Cannes Film Festival, May 27, 2023 © CHRISTOPHE SIMON / AFP

As for the closing film, the festival returns to the tradition of programming the latest creation of the Pixar studios, bought by Disney: the animated film "Elementary", which will be released in June, was presented in world premiere after the ceremony.

© 2023 AFP