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.

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.

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!