On September 20, 1946, the Cannes Film Festival opened in the city of Cannes, on the French Riviera. The event’s debut came after a failed attempt in 1939, when the outbreak of World War II forced the organizers to cancel the first edition.
The inaugural festival featured productions from 18 countries and honored French filmmaker René Clément for the film Rail Battle (Rail Battle), in the best director and jury award categories.
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The initiative to create an alternative event arose in response to the Venice Festival, which in 1938 became a vehicle for Nazi and fascist propaganda. Italy, under Benito Mussolini, and Germany, under Adolf Hitler, directly influenced the selection of films and the distribution of awards.
Angered by this situation, French artists and producers decided to organize a new film festival. In June 1939, it was announced in Paris that the Film Festival would be held in Cannes—an elegant resort town on the Mediterranean coast, southwest of Nice.
The Impact of World War II
The event was scheduled to run from September 1 to 20 of that year. The program for the 1939 edition included films such as Nigerian Peoplefrom France, The Wonders of Oztwo United States, Black Diamondfrom Poland, and Tomorrow is Warfrom the Soviet Union.
On the morning of September 1, the opening day of the festival, Hitler invaded Poland, in an action that marked the start of the Second World War.
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In response to the invasion, the French government ordered a general mobilization, and the festival had to be postponed. Only one film was shown: The Hunchback of Notre Dameby German-American William Dieterle.
Two days later, France and Britain declared war on Germany, ending any possibility of further events.
The revival of the festival in 1946
It was not until 1946 that the Cannes Festival reappeared, this time with the aim of promoting artistic creation among productions from different countries. The focus on pure and simple competition was set aside.
The 1946 edition programming included films such as Human Clothby Austrian-American director Billy Wilder; Rome, Open Cityby Italian director Roberto Rossellini; Rail Battleby French director René Clément; And Disappointmentby British director David Lean.
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In addition to the Grand Prize awarded to René Clément, nine other special prizes were also awarded. In 1962, the Brazilian film Promise Payerdirected by Anselmo Duarte and based on the play by Dias Gomes, won the Palme d’Or.
In its first few years, the Cannes Festival faced financial difficulties, but in 1952, with the inauguration of the ‘Palais des Festivals’ as a permanent venue, the event gained stability. Today, the event attracts more than 30,000 people in May.
History of Lusophony in Cannes
- 1953 – Best Adventure Films – Cangaceirofrom Lima Barreto;
- 1959 – Palme d’Or – Black Orpheusdirected by Marcel Camus, the first Portuguese-language film to receive the top prize at Cannes;
- 1959 – Official competition- Portuguese Rhapsodyby João Mendes, with a script by Fernanda de Castro;
- 1962 – Palme d’Or – Promise Payerdirected by Anselmo Duarte from Brazil;
- 1967 – International Critics Award – Earth in a Tranceby Glauber Rocha;
- 1969 – Best Direction – Glauber Rocha, for Evil Dragon vs Holy WarriorIndonesian:
- 1977 – Special Jury Prize – short film – By Cavalcantiby Glauber Rocha;
- 1982 – Best Animated Short Film – Meow!,[2] by Marcos Magalhaes;
- 1986 – Women’s Interpretation Award – Fernanda Torres, for I Know I Will Love Youby Arnaldo Jabor;
- 1997 – International Critics Award – Journey to the Beginning of the Worldby Manuel de Oliveira;
- 1999 – Special Jury Prize – A Cardby Manuel de Oliveira;
- 2002 – First Cinéfondation Award (for university films of maximum 60 minutes) – Orange Sunby Eduardo Valente;
- 2008 – Un Regard Neuf Award in the parallel section Two Weeks Director – Wallfrom Tião;
- 2008 – Women’s Interpretation Award – Sandra Corveloni, for Passing PathIndonesian:
- 2019 – Jury Prize – Bacuraudirected by Kleber Mendonça Filho and Juliano Dornelles.
