Can This Best Picture Oscar Nominee Make History?
Discover if this Best Picture Oscar nominee will achieve a feat only a few movies in history have accomplished.
The Academy Awards are famous for their surprising moments, from Moonlight's unexpected victory over La La Land to Parasite's groundbreaking success. While Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer is expected to dominate at the Oscars, there is always room for a surprise upset. In fact, a 2024 Best Picture nominee has the chance to join an exclusive club of only three other films that have achieved a particular feat, requiring a win in the night's most prestigious category. This record doesn't focus on being the first of its kind, but rather on the journey a film takes from the festival circuit to the Oscars campaign.
One of the most significant events in the film industry is the annual Cannes Film Festival. Established in 1946, this exclusive festival showcases a wide range of films and premieres. Not only is Cannes known as one of the "Big Three" European film festivals, alongside Venice and Berlin, but winning the coveted Palme d'Or can propel a film to success throughout the year and awards season. Considered one of the most prestigious awards in the industry, a Palme d'Or win at Cannes can significantly impact a film's trajectory.
Anatomy Of A Fall Can Win An Oscar After Winning The Palme d’Or At Cannes
A body outside of a shed in the snow in Anatomy of a Fall - Anatomy Of A Fall Can Win An Oscar After Winning The Palme d’Or At Cannes
At the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, Justine Triet's Anatomy of a Fall (Anatomie d'une chute) won the prestigious Palme d'Or. This achievement placed the film and its director in the company of renowned classics like Apocalypse Now, Kagemusha, and The Piano. While generating buzz on the film festival circuit can attract more viewers and momentum, winning the Palme d'Or does not guarantee success during awards season. In fact, only three films in history have managed to secure both the Palme d'Or and the Best Picture Oscar.
Justine Triet, Julia Ducournau (Titane), and Jane Campion (The Piano) are the only three women directors who have ever received the coveted Palme d'Or award.
Why Winning Best Picture & The Palme d'Or Is So Rare
In 1946, Billy Wilder's noir drama The Lost Weekend won the top prize at Cannes, known then as the Grand Prix du Festival International du Film. In 1955, Delbert Mann's romantic drama Marty claimed the honor in the first year it was called the Palme d'Or. Bong Joon-ho's Parasite earned the Golden Palm in 2019. Interestingly, all three of these winners later went on to win Best Picture at the Oscars. However, Parasite is the only film among them that was not made in the United States.
Song Kang-ho as Kim Ki-taek observes a strange rock object in a scene from Parasite. - Why Winning Best Picture & The Palme d'Or Is So Rare
Triet could make history by becoming only the third female director to win Cannes' most prestigious award. If her film, Anatomy of a Fall, wins Best Picture at the 2024 Academy Awards, she would also join a very elite group of filmmakers. It is extremely uncommon for a movie to win both the Oscars' Best Picture and the Palme d'Or because many foreign films are usually submitted to the Oscars' Best International Feature category. Additionally, it is rare for a U.S.-made film to maintain the momentum after Cannes and go on to win the Best Picture Oscar almost a year later.
Editor's P/S:
This article delves into the exclusive club of films that have won both the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and the Best Picture Oscar. The journey from the festival circuit to awards season is often long and arduous, and only a few select films have managed to achieve this rare feat. It's a testament to the immense talent and artistry of these filmmakers that their works have resonated with audiences and critics alike.
The article also highlights the underrepresentation of female directors in the top echelons of the film industry. It is inspiring to see women like Justine Triet, Julia Ducournau, and Jane Campion breaking barriers and achieving recognition for their exceptional work. Their success paves the way for future generations of female filmmakers and demonstrates the importance of diversity and inclusion in the arts.
