In a remarkable display of talent and strategic acquisition, Neon CEO Tom Quinn ensured the company's sixth consecutive win at the prestigious Cannes Palme d’Or. This year's honor went to Iranian dissident Jafar Panahi for his poignant film “It Was Just an Accident.” Remarkably, Quinn secured the film just two days prior to the award ceremony, demonstrating his keen eye for groundbreaking cinema.
Beyond the Palme d’Or, Neon also garnered accolades at the festival, including the coveted Jury Prize for “Sirât,” a film co-acquired with MUBI for “Sound of Falling.” Additionally, the Brazilian feature “The Secret Agent” earned two awards: Best Director for Kleber Mendonça Filho and Best Actor for Wagner Moura. This achievement positions Neon as a leader in the film acquisitions derby, especially as MUBI's high-profile $23-million pick-up “Die My Love” failed to secure any awards.
While a Cannes Actress award for Jennifer Lawrence could have bolstered her Oscar campaign, MUBI remains undeterred in its pursuit of accolades. Similarly, Focus Features, despite Oliver Hermanus’ understated American drama “History of Sound” receiving no awards, may still target acting nominations for Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor. Furthermore, Sony Pictures Classics is likely to campaign for June Squibb, a brilliant nonagenarian actress in Scarlett Johansson’s directorial debut “Eleanor the Great,” which premiered in the Un Certain Regard category.
American films struggled at the Cannes awards this year, with notable entries such as Ari Aster’s political western “Eddington” (A24), Julia Reichardt’s “The Mastermind” (Mubi), and Wes Anderson’s “The Phoenician Scheme” (Focus) going home empty-handed. However, one standout was Spike Lee’s Out of Competition film “Highest 2 Lowest.” This intense family drama, featuring the legendary Denzel Washington, was adapted from Akira Kurosawa’s “High and Low.” Although it did not compete for awards, the festival's surprise appearance by Washington, who accepted an Honorary Palme d’Or from Lee, undoubtedly fueled future Oscar campaigns.
Neon is poised to make significant strides at the Oscars, particularly with its pre-production acquisition from Cannes 2024, Norwegian director Joachim Trier’s “Sentimental Value,” which won the Grand Prix. Quinn’s knack for selecting award-winning films is evident, and he is expected to advocate for Swedish veteran Stellan Skarsgård, who received acclaim for his role as an aging filmmaker, and Renate Reinsve, the 2021 Cannes actress winner, who plays his estranged daughter.
Another potential Oscar contender is Ugo Bienvenu’s enchanting French animated feature “Arco,” which delivers an important eco-message similar to Neon’s previous Oscar-nominated films “Flee” and “Robot Dreams.” With all Cannes winners now in the spotlight, they have a better chance of being submitted by their respective countries for the Best International Feature Film category.
Jafar Panahi may benefit from the Academy’s new asylum rule, which stipulates that the submitting country must verify that creative control of the film was largely in the hands of individuals with refugee or asylum status. Despite his ongoing conflicts with the Iranian government and filming “It Was Just an Accident” in secrecy, Panahi has yet to request asylum. Nevertheless, the film will not be submitted by Iran, although Cinetic Media has suggested Luxembourg may have the opportunity to submit it.
Belgium’s potential Oscar entry could be “Young Mothers,” which won Best Screenplay for the Dardenne brothers, who have previously secured multiple Palmes. Other likely submissions for Best International Feature Film from Cannes include “The Secret Agent” (Brazil), “Sentimental Value” (Norway), “Sirât” (France or Spain), “Sound of Falling” (Germany), and “Young Mothers” (Belgium).
Films that did not win awards may also be contenders in the International race, such as “Eagles of the Republic” (Competition, Sweden) and “The Love That Remains” (Cannes Premiere, Iceland). Sidebar award-winners gain traction as well; Frank Dillane, who won Best Actor in Un Certain Regard for his compelling portrayal in “Urchin,” directed by Harris Dickinson, could emerge as a contender for the Best Actor race with the right support.
In summary, the Cannes Film Festival has set the stage for exciting Oscar campaigns, with Neon leading the charge and numerous films vying for recognition. The evolving landscape of international cinema ensures that the conversation around these emerging talents and their stories will continue well into the awards season.
