© DR
© DR

Exploring and spotlighting young international creation

“Providing a space in which upcoming generations can emerge is essential and is also one of the very purposes of the Festival. Short films explore the present and prepare the future. They showcase a variety of styles, identities, cultures and geographies.”

Thierry Frémaux

Pham Tien An, 2023 Caméra d'or winner and Anaïs Demoustier, President of the Caméra d'or © Kristy Sparow / Getty Images
Pham Tien An, 2023 Caméra d'or winner and Anaïs Demoustier, President of the Caméra d'or © Kristy Sparow / Getty Images

First films

Hotly anticipated and pored over by film professionals around the world, every year the Caméra d’or crowns the best début film from the Official Selection and the two stand-alone sections: the Semaine de la Critique and the Directors’ Fortnight. Jim Jarmusch, John Turturro, Jafar Panahi, Steve McQueen, Leonor Serraille and Lukas Dhont are just some of the filmmakers who have been ushered into the limelight by this award since it was first launched in 1978.

Selection Jury Awards

Flóra Anna Buda, 2023 Short Film Palme d'or with 27 © LOIC VENANCE / AFP
Flóra Anna Buda, 2023 Short Film Palme d'or with 27 © LOIC VENANCE / AFP

Short Films in Competition

Short films, long careers. Many filmmakers’ careers started out in the Festival’s Short Films Competition before going international: New Zealand director Jane Campion won the 1993 Palme d’or, while Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan walked away with the Palme d’or in 2014.

Selection Jury Awards

The award winners and jury members of La Cinef 2023 © Maxence Parey / FDC
The award winners and jury members of La Cinef 2023 © Maxence Parey / FDC

La Cinef

Over 410 films from more than a hundred schools around the world have been selected by the CINEF since 1998. Jessica Hausner (Amour Fou, Little Joe), Asif Kapadia (Amy, Diego Maradona), Emmanuelle Bercot (Standing Tall, Peaceful) and Deniz Gamze Ergüven (Mustang, Kings) have all taken part. Proof if ever was needed of just how diverse and vibrant the world’s young directors are!

Selection Jury Awards