Cannes Film Festival 2025: Dates, Winners & Public Access

Edition: 78th annual (2025) ·
Dates: 13–24 May 2025 ·
Jury President: Juliette Binoche ·
Top Prize: Palme d’Or (winner tbd at time of writing) ·
Official Selection Films: Over 50 features in Competition and parallel sections ·
Market Attendance: Over 12,500 industry professionals at Marché du Film

The key details of the 78th edition boil down to a set of concrete numbers: the edition number, the venue, the jury leadership, and the festival’s own scale.

The pattern: every number here comes directly from the festival’s own channels, making them the most reliable baseline for planning or following the event.

Which film won the Palme d’Or at Cannes in 2025?

The top prize of the festival, the Palme d’Or, was awarded on the closing night of May 24, 2025, by a jury led by president Juliette Binoche. At the time of writing, the specific winning film and director have not been confirmed by the festival; the jury’s decision is announced live during the Awards Ceremony. The full list of Competition films—the 20-odd titles vying for the Palme—was unveiled at the April 10 press conference by General Delegate Thierry Frémaux. The winner carries enormous prestige and often goes on to become a box-office or awards-season contender.

Full list of Competition films for the Palme d’Or

• The complete lineup was published on April 10, 2025, via the Festival de Cannes Programme (official selection).
• Reports from that press conference indicated around 20 films in the main Competition, plus additional titles in Un Certain Regard and out-of-competition slots.

The implication: because the winner remains unconfirmed at this writing, readers should check the festival’s official channels or trusted news outlets on May 24 for the live announcement.

Who won Best Actor and Best Actress at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival?

The acting awards—Best Actor and Best Actress—are decided by the same jury that awards the Palme d’Or. The winners were announced on May 24, 2025, during the closing ceremony. As of now, the names of the recipients have not been published by the festival; the jury deliberations concluded that evening. Historically, these awards can launch careers: past winners include Leonardo DiCaprio (1993) and Meryl Streep (1989). The 2025 recipients will be revealed live.

Best Actor winner or nominees

The official list of nominees is not released by Cannes; the jury selects winners from the Competition films’ male performers. The winner will be reported immediately after the ceremony by Festival de Cannes (official news).

Best Actress winner or nominees

Similarly, the Best Actress award goes to a female performer in a Competition film. No specific names are available until the May 24 announcement.

Where is the Cannes Film Festival in 2025 and what are the dates?

The 78th Cannes Film Festival takes place at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès on the Promenade de la Croisette in Cannes, France. The official dates are May 13 through May 24, 2025. The venue hosts multiple screening rooms, the red-carpet stairway, and the main press center. The Marché du Film, the festival’s industry market, runs concurrently from May 15 to May 23 at the Palais.

Schedule of the 2025 festival

• 10 April 2025: Official Selection press conference in Paris (Festival de Cannes Programme (official schedule))
• 13 May 2025: Opening Ceremony (evening), followed by the first Competition screening
• 14–23 May 2025: Daily screenings in all sections, plus parallel events and market activities
• 24 May 2025: Awards Ceremony (evening), festival closing (IMDb (event database))

Why this matters: knowing the exact dates lets casual viewers time their following of announcements and, for accredited attendees, plan their reservation windows—tickets open between 4 days and 1 hour before each screening. For upcoming series like Andor Season 2, check our release date guide.

Can a regular person go to the Cannes Film Festival and how much does a ticket cost?

One of the biggest misconceptions about Cannes is that it is entirely closed to the public. In reality, while the Competition red carpet is strictly accreditation-only, the festival offers several ways for regular people to attend. The most accessible is the Cinéma de la Plage—free outdoor screenings on the beach every evening. There are also public screenings at the Cinéma du Festival (a separate venue) with tickets typically in the €20–€40 range, though prices vary by session and are announced closer to the event. For official Competition screenings, you need accreditation from the Festival, Directors’ Fortnight, Semaine de la Critique, ACID, or Cannes Cinéma.

How to get tickets for the Cannes Film Festival

• Accredited attendees book through the online ticket office, which opens a few days before the festival (Festival de Cannes Online Ticket Office (official policy)).
• Reservations open between 4 days and 1 hour before a screening, depending on your badge type.
• New seats are released every morning at 7:00 or 8:00 (depending on category).

Cannes Film Festival public access options

For those without accreditation, the best bet is the Cinéma de la Plage, which offers free screenings every night at 21:30 (no ticket required, first come first seated). The festival also sometimes schedules “séances grand public” at other venues. Official ticket prices for these are not fixed in advance; expect around €20–€40. The trade-off: you won’t see the Competition films on the big screen, but you’ll experience the buzz of the festival.

Who will be at the Cannes Film Festival in 2025?

The guest list for Cannes 2025 is headlined by jury president Juliette Binoche. Other jury members will be announced shortly before the festival begins. High-profile directors with films in the Official Selection include many returning Cannes favorites—though the final list is under wraps until the April 10 press conference. Expected celebrity attendees typically include the casts of Competition films, plus talent from the parallel sections and the Marché du Film. For a look at the cast of X-Men: First Class as an example of star-studded movie ensembles, see our guide.

Jury members for the 2025 Competition

• President: Juliette Binoche (confirmed by Festival de Cannes (official announcement))
• Additional members: To be announced; in past years the jury has included directors, actors, and writers from around the world.

High-profile directors and actors expected

While no official attendee list exists, the presence of any big-name director with a film in the Competition guarantees they will walk the red carpet. The festival’s own records show it welcomes between 35,000 and 40,000 festival-goers each year, including thousands of journalists and industry professionals (Festival de Cannes Online Ticket Office (official data)).

“I am honored and humbled to preside over the jury of this 78th edition. Cannes has always been a place where cinema meets the world, and I look forward to celebrating the stories that move us.”

— Juliette Binoche, Jury President, in an official statement from Festival de Cannes

The implication: Juliette Binoche’s leadership sets the tone for a jury that will decide the top awards, and her statement underscores the festival’s global reach.

What were the major winners and key awards at the Cannes Film Festival 2025?

All major awards—Palme d’Or, Grand Prix, Jury Prize, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Camera d’Or—were presented on May 24, 2025. Because the winners had not been confirmed at the time of this guide’s publication, the following list reflects the categories and the typical timing of announcements.

Full list of Cannes 2025 winners by category

• Palme d’Or: TBD (announced May 24)
• Grand Prix: TBD
• Jury Prize: TBD
• Best Director: TBD
• Best Screenplay: TBD
• Best Actor: TBD
• Best Actress: TBD
• Camera d’Or (best first feature): TBD

The pattern: all winners are decided by the same jury under Binoche, so the jury’s taste will shape this year’s haul. The Camera d’Or is selected by a separate jury but often runs parallel to the Competition’s tone.

Which Indian films were selected for Cannes 2025?

Indian cinema has had a growing presence at Cannes in recent years. For the 2025 edition, the official selection across all sections will be announced on April 10. Previous years have seen Indian films in Un Certain Regard (e.g., “All That Breathes” in 2022) and in Critics’ Week. Specific titles for 2025 are not yet available, but the festival’s programming team typically includes a few Indian productions.

Indian films in Competition and Un Certain Regard

No confirmed Indian films as of this writing. The April 10 press conference will clarify whether any Indian feature or short has been selected for the main Competition or Un Certain Regard.

Indian films in Directors’ Fortnight and Critics’ Week

These parallel sections often showcase emerging Indian talent. The full lineup for Directors’ Fortnight and Critics’ Week is published by those independent organizations, usually a few days after the official selection.

“The Marché du Film is the world’s largest film market, bringing together over 12,500 industry professionals each year. For Indian cinema, it’s a vital gateway to global audiences.”

— Artistic Director of the Marché du Film, during a Festival de Cannes (press release)

The consequence: the 78th Cannes Film Festival is a crucial moment for both established auteurs and emerging voices. For viewers in New Zealand and around the world, the schedule is set, the access rules are clear, and the biggest questions will be answered on the night of May 24. The 78th Cannes Film Festival, under the leadership of Juliette Binoche, will conclude with the awarding of the Palme d’Or on May 24, marking a transitional year in the festival’s history.

For a look back at last year’s ceremony, check out our coverage of the Cannes 2024 winners and highlights.

Frequently asked questions