Cristian Mungiu wins Palme d'Or (Fjord)

Cristian Mungiu won the Palme d'Or for “Fjord” on May 23 at the 79th Festival de Cannes, the festival said in its official winners list. The Romanian director took Cannes' top prize for a competition title starring Renate Reinsve and Sebastian Stan. Festival materials published after the ceremony listed “Fjord” as the Palme d'Or winner and identified Park Chan-wook as president of this year's jury. (festival-cannes.com) Trade outlets including Variety and The Hollywood Reporter reported that the award marked Mungiu's second Palme d'Or. (variety.com) ### What did Cannes say about the winner? The Festival de Cannes said “FJORD directed by Cristian MUNGIU” won the Palme d'Or in the feature-film competition. (festival-cannes.com) The same official list, published on May 23, also named the Grand Prix winner, directing winners, screenplay winner and acting prizes for the 79th edition. A May 24 festival post said winners appeared before the international press after receiving their awards. That post identified Mungiu as the Palme d'Or winner for “Fjord” and said the press conference followed the ceremony. ### Who is in “Fjord,” and what is the film about? (festival-cannes.com) Festival de Cannes materials for “Fjord” list Renate Reinsve, Sebastian Stan, Lisa Carlehed and Cristian Mungiu among the participants attached to the film's Cannes press events. The festival's film page says the story follows the Gheorghius, a Romanian-Norwegian couple who resettle in a village by a fjord and come under scrutiny after bruises are seen on their adolescent daughter. (festival-cannes.com) Variety's review of the film said Stan and Reinsve play central roles in a drama about a Romanian Evangelical family in Norway facing a child-abuse investigation. The Hollywood Reporter similarly described the film as an account of parents under investigation. (festival-cannes.com) ### Why are reports calling this Mungiu's second Palme d'Or? Variety reported that “Fjord” earned Mungiu his second Palme d'Or, and The Hollywood Reporter also described the award in those terms. Deadline, in a separate report focused on distributor Neon, said the win gave “Christian Mungiu” his second Palme d'Or and extended Neon's run of Cannes top-prize winners to seven straight. (festival-cannes.com) The festival's own winners list does not frame the result in historical terms, but it confirms the 2026 prize itself. The second-Palme characterization comes from the trade reports published after the ceremony. (variety.com) ### What else was awarded alongside “Fjord”? The Cannes winners list said Andreï Zviaguintsev's “MINOTAURE” won the Grand Prix. The festival also said Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi shared the Best Director Prize for “LA BOLA NEGRA” with Pawel Pawlikowski for “FATHERLAND,” while Emmanuel Marre won Best Screenplay for “NOTRE SALUT.” (msn.com) The same official list said Virginie Efira and Tao Okamoto won best performance for an actress in “SOUDAIN,” and Emmanuel Macchia and Valentin Campagne won best performance for an actor in “COWARD.” Federico Luis won the short-film Palme d'Or for “PARA LOS CONTRINCANTES,” according to Cannes. (festival-cannes.com) ### Where can readers find the next official details? The Festival de Cannes has already published both the full winners list and a separate May 24 post with press-conference highlights from the winners. The festival's film page for “Fjord” also remains available with credits, synopsis and press materials tied to the 2026 competition lineup. (festival-cannes.com)