La Gradiva wins Cannes Critics' Week prize

Marine Atlan’s “La Gradiva” has given Cannes its clearest prize result so far, winning the top award in Critics’ Week before the festival’s main competition has announced the Palme d’Or. Deadline, Variety and other trade outlets reported on May 20 that the French filmmaker’s debut feature took the Ami Paris Grand Prize at the 65th edition of the sidebar. (deadline.com) The award came from Critics’ Week, the Cannes section focused on first and second features. The main Cannes awards are still pending. (cineuropa.org) ### Which Cannes prize did “La Gradiva” actually win? The May 20 announcement concerned Critics’ Week, not the main Cannes competition. (screendaily.com) Critics’ Week said “La Gradiva” won its Grand Prize, formally titled the Ami Paris Grand Prize, making it the top winner in that parallel section. The 65th edition of Critics’ Week is one of Cannes’ parallel programs, separate from the Official Selection that culminates in the Palme d’Or. Screen Daily said the Official Selection prizes are scheduled to be handed out at the festival ceremony on Saturday, May 23. (deadline.com) ### Who is Marine Atlan, and why is this notable for her? Marine Atlan won the prize with her first feature film. Critics’ Week lists “La Gradiva” as directed by Atlan and credits the screenplay to Atlan and Anne Brouillet. Premiere described the film as the first feature by the former cinematographer. (deadline.com) Cineuropa said the jury that awarded the prize was chaired by Indian filmmaker Payal Kapadia. That gives the award added visibility inside a section built around emerging directors, where a first feature can become a launch point for sales and wider festival circulation. (screendaily.com) ### What is “La Gradiva” about? Deadline described “La Gradiva” as a film about a group of French high-school students who travel to Naples on a school trip to discover the ruins of Pompeii and the bodies petrified by Vesuvius. The official Critics’ Week page similarly places the story around French teenagers in Italy and lists cast members including Colas Quignard, Suzanne Gerin, Mitia Capellier and Antonia Buresi. (semainedelacritique.com) Cineuropa’s review said the film follows French youngsters on a school trip in Italy. The outlet also reported that the film was produced by Les Films du Poisson, co-produced by Italy’s BiBi Film, and that mk2 Films is handling international sales. (cineuropa.org) ### What else came with the Critics’ Week awards? Variety reported that Aina Clotet’s “Alive” won the Louis Roederer Foundation Rising Star Award at the same Critics’ Week prizes. Cineuropa and French press reports listed other section awards, including the SACD award and the Canal+ award for short film. (deadline.com) French outlet Les Inrockuptibles said the Critics’ Week winners were unveiled at the section’s closing ceremony. It also reported that films from the 2026 selection are scheduled to screen at the Cinémathèque française from June 3 to June 7. (cineuropa.org) ### What happens next at Cannes? Saturday, May 23, is the next key date for the broader festival. Screen Daily said that is when Cannes will hand out the awards for the Official Selection, including the Palme d’Or. (variety.com) Friday, May 22, is also on the schedule for “La Gradiva” itself. The official Critics’ Week page lists another screening of the film at Le Raimu at 7 p.m. local time, after earlier Cannes screenings on May 16 and May 17. (semainedelacritique.com) (screendaily.com) (lesinrocks.com)