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Un Certain Regard
Un Certain Regard
Un Certain Regard
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Un Certain Regard
Un Certain Regard official logo
Date1978 - present
CountryFrance
Presented byCannes Film Festival
First award1998
Currently held byDiego Céspedes
The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo (2025)
Websitefestival-cannes.com

Un Certain Regard (French: [œ̃ sɛʁtɛ̃ ʁəɡaʁ]; 'A Certain Glance') is a section of the Cannes Film Festival's official selection. It is run at the salle Debussy, parallel to the competition for the Palme d'Or. This section was introduced in 1978 by Gilles Jacob.

The section presents 20 films with unusual styles and non-traditional stories seeking international recognition.

At the 1998 Cannes Film Festival, Killer by Darezhan Omirbaev was named the first ever winner. While The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo by Diego Céspedes is the most recent winner.

Winners

[edit]

In 1998, the Prix un certain regard was introduced to the section to recognize young talent and to encourage innovative and daring works by presenting one of the films with a grant to aid its distribution in France.[1] Since 2005, the prize consists of €30,000 financed by the Groupama GAN Foundation.[2]

Apichatpong Weerasethakul won for Blissfully Yours (2002)
Ousmane Sembène won for Moolaadé (2004)
Yorgos Lanthimos won for Dogtooth (2009)
Hong Sang-soo won for Hahaha (2010)
Mohammad Rasoulof won for A Man of Integrity (2017)

1990s

[edit]
Year English title Original Title Director Production country
1998 Killer Tueur à gages Darezhan Omirbaev Kazakhstan, France
1999 Beautiful People Jasmin Dizdar United Kingdom, Bosnia and Herzegovina

2000s

[edit]
Year English title Original Title Director Production country
2000 Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her Rodrigo García United States
2001 Boyhood Loves Amour d'enfance Yves Caumon France
2002 Blissfully Yours สุดเสน่หา Apichatpong Weerasethakul Thailand
2003 The Best of Youth La meglio gioventù Marco Tullio Giordana Italy
2004 Moolaadé Ousmane Sembène Senegal
2005 The Death of Mr. Lazarescu Moartea domnului Lăzărescu Cristi Puiu Romania
2006 Luxury Car 江城夏日 Wang Chao China, France
2007 California Dreamin' Cristian Nemescu Romania
2008 Tulpan Sergey Dvortsevoy Kazakhstan
2009 Dogtooth Κυνόδοντας Yorgos Lanthimos[3][4] Greece

2010s

[edit]
Year English title Original Title Director Production country
2010 Hahaha 하하하 Hong Sang-soo South Korea
2011 Arirang 아리랑 Kim Ki-duk
Stopped on Track Halt auf freier Strecke Andreas Dresen Germany
2012 After Lucia Después de Lucía Michel Franco Mexico
2013 The Missing Picture L'image manquante Rithy Panh Cambodia, France
2014 White God Fehér isten Kornél Mundruczó Hungary, Germany, Sweden
2015 Rams Hrútar Grímur Hákonarson Iceland, Denmark, Poland, Norway
2016 The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki Hymyilevä mies Juho Kuosmanen Finland, Germany, Sweden
2017 A Man of Integrity لِرد Mohammad Rasoulof Iran
2018 Border Gräns Ali Abbasi Sweden
2019 The Invisible Life of Eurídice Gusmão A Vida Invisível de Eurídice Gusmão Karim Aïnouz Brazil

2020s

[edit]
Year English title Original Title Director Production country
2021 Unclenching the Fists Разжимая кулаки Kira Kovalenko Russia
2022 The Worst Ones Les pires Lise Akoka and Romane Gueret[5] France
2023 How to Have Sex Molly Manning Walker[6] United Kingdom
2024 Black Dog 狗阵 Guan Hu China
2025 The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo La misteriosa mirada del flamenco Diego Céspedes[7] Chile, France, Germany, Spain, Belgium

Other awards

[edit]

2000s

[edit]
Year Award English title Original title Recipient
2000 Mention spéciale Me You Them Eu Tu Eles Andrucha Waddington
2003 Prix le premier regard[8] A Thousand Months Mille mois Faouzi Bensaidi
Prix du jury Crimson Gold طلای سرخ Jafar Panahi
2004 Prix du regard original[9] Whisky Juan Pablo Rebella, Pablo Stoll
Prix du regard vers l'avenir[10] Earth and Ashes خاکستر و خاک Atiq Rahimi
2005 Prix de l'intimité[11] Le filmeur Alain Cavalier
Prix de l'espoir[12] Delwende S. Pierre Yameogo
2006 Prix spécial du jury Ten Canoes Rolf de Heer
Prix d'interprétation féminine[13] The Way I Spent the End of the World Cum mi-am petrecut sfârșitul lumii Dorotheea Petre
Prix d'interprétation masculine[14] The Violin El violín Ángel Tavira
Prix du président du jury[15] Murderers Meurtrières Patrick Grandperret
2007 Prix spécial du jury Actresses Actrices Valeria Bruni-Tedeschi
Coup de cœur du jury[16] The Band's Visit ביקור התזמורת Eran Kolirin
2008 Prix du jury Tokyo Sonata トウキョウソナタ Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Coup de cœur du jury Cloud 9 Wolke Neun Andreas Dresen
Le K.O. du certain regard Tyson James Toback
Prix de l'espoir Johnny Mad Dog Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire
2009 Prix du jury Police, Adjective Polițist, adjectiv Corneliu Porumboiu
Prix spécial du jury ex-aequo No One Knows About Persian Cats کسی از گربه های ایرانی خبر نداره Bahman Ghobadi
Father of My Children Le père de mes enfants Mia Hansen-Løve

2010s

[edit]
Year Award English title Original title Recipient
2010 Prix du jury October Octubre Daniel Vega, Diego Vega
Prix d’interprétation féminine The Lips Los Labios Adela Sánchez, Eva Bianco, Victoria Raposo
2011 Prix spécial du jury Elena Елена Andrey Zvyagintsev
Prix de la mise en scène Goodbye به امید دیدار Mohammad Rasoulof
2012 Mention spéciale Children of Sarajevo Djeca Aida Begić
Prix spécial du Jury Le grand soir Gustave Kervern, Benoît Delépine
Prix d'interprétation féminine Laurence Anyways Suzanne Clément
Our Children À Perdre la Raison Emilie Dequenne
2013 Prix spécial du jury Omar عمر Hany Abu-Assad
Prix de la mise en scène Stranger by the Lake L'Inconnu du lac Alain Guiraudie
Prix un talent certain pour l'ensemble des comédiens The Golden Dream La jaula de oro Diego Quemada-Díez
Prix de l’avenir Fruitvale Station Ryan Coogler
2014 Prix du jury Force Majeure Ruben Östlund
Prix spécial du certain regard The Salt of the Earth Le sel de la terre Wim Wenders, Juliano Ribeiro Salgado
Prix d'ensemble Party Girl Marie Amachoukeli, Claire Burger, Samuel Theis
Prix du meilleur acteur[17][18] Charlie's Country David Gulpilil
2015 Prix du Jury The High Sun Zvizdan Dalibor Matanic
Prix de la mise-en-scene Journey to the Shore 岸辺の旅 Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Prix avenir prometteur The Fourth Direction Gurvinder Singh
Masaan Neeraj Ghaywan
Nahid Ida Panahandeh
Prix un certain talent The Treasure Comoara Corneliu Porumboiu
2016 Prix du Jury Harmonium 淵に立つ Koji Fukada
Prix de la mise-en-scène Captain Fantastic Matt Ross
Prix du meilleur scénario The Stopover Voir du pays Delphine Coulin, Muriel Coulin
Prix spécial du certain regard The Red Turtle La Tortue rouge Michael Dudok de Wit
2017 Prix du Jury April's Daughter Las Hijas de Abril Michel Franco
Prix d'interprétation féminine Fortunata Jasmine Trinca
Prix de la poésie du cinéma Barbara Mathieu Amalric
Prix de la mise-en-scène Wind River Taylor Sheridan
2018 Prix du Jury The Dead and the Others Chuva é Cantoria na Aldeia dos Mortos João Salaviza, Renée Nader Messora
Prix du meilleur acteur Girl Victor Polster
Prix du scénario Sofia Meryem Benm'Barek-Aloïsi
Prix de la mise-en-scène Donbass Sergei Loznitsa
2019 Jury Prize Fire Will Come O que arde Oliver Laxe
Prix d'interprétation féminine On a Magical Night Chambre 212 Chiara Mastroianni
Prix du meilleur directeur Beanpole Дылда Kantemir Balagov
Prix Coup de cœur du jury The Climb Michael Angelo Covino
Prix spécial du jury Liberté Albert Serra

2020s

[edit]
Year Award English title Original title Recipient
2021 Jury Prize Great Freedom Große Freiheit Sebastian Meise
Ensemble Prize Good Mother Bonne Mère Hafsia Herzi
Prix de l'originalité Lamb Dýrið Valdimar Jóhannsson
Prix du Courage La Civil Teodora Mihai
Mention spéciale Prayers for the Stolen Noche de fuego Tatiana Huezo
2022[5] Jury Prize Joyland Saim Sadiq
Best Director Metronom Alexandru Belc
Best Performance Corsage Vicky Krieps
Harka Adam Bessa
Best Screenplay Mediterranean Fever Maha Haj
Coup de cœur Rodeo Lola Quivoron
2023[6] Jury Prize Hounds Les Meutes Kamal Lazraq
Best Director The Mother of All Lies كذب أبيض Asmae El Moudir
Freedom Prize Goodbye Julia Mohamed Kordofani
Ensemble Prize The Buriti Flower Crowrã João Salaviza, Renée Nader Messora, Cast and Crew
New Voice Prize Omen Augure Baloji Tshiani
2024 Jury Prize Souleymane's Story L'histoire de Souleymane Boris Lojkine
Best Director The Damned Roberto Minervini
On Becoming a Guinea Fowl Rungano Nyoni
Best Performance The Shameless Anasuya Sengupta
Souleymane's Story L'histoire de Souleymane Abou Sangare
Youth Prize Holy Cow Vingt Dieux Louise Courvoisier
Special Mention Norah نورة Tawfik Alzaidi
2025 Jury Prize A Poet Un Poeta Simón Mesa Soto
Best Director Once Upon a Time in Gaza Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Best Screenplay Pillion Harry Lighton
Best Actor Urchin Frank Dillane
Best Actress I Only Rest in the Storm O Riso e a Faca Cleo Diára

References and notes

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Un Certain Regard

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Un Certain Regard is a prominent section of the Official Selection at the , established in 1978 under the leadership of General Delegate Gilles Jacob to diversify the festival's programming by highlighting innovative, original, and aesthetically unique films from emerging and established directors around the world. Screened in the Salle Debussy parallel to the main , it celebrates a "cinema of discoveries" by spotlighting new trends, artistic paths, and cinematic voices from underrepresented countries and filmmakers. Initially non-competitive, the section introduced its own awards in 1998 with the inaugural Prix Un Certain Regard, sponsored by the GAN Foundation, to recognize bold and audacious works; today, a dedicated awards multiple prizes, including the top Un Certain Regard Prize (€30,000), Jury Prize, Best Director, , , and Best Screenplay. Each year, the selection typically features around 18–20 films, with a significant portion being debut features eligible for the , emphasizing the festival's commitment to nurturing global talent and diverse narratives. Notable alumni include directors like , , and Bong Joon-ho, whose early Un Certain Regard screenings foreshadowed their later successes. The section's name, translating to "a certain regard" or "a certain look," reflects its focus on fresh perspectives that challenge conventional storytelling and visual styles.

Background

Creation and Purpose

Un Certain Regard was established in 1978 by Gilles Jacob, who had just been appointed as the General Delegate of the Cannes Film Festival. This new sidebar section was created to showcase films that deviated from conventional storytelling and production norms, featuring unusual styles, original narratives, and non-traditional approaches often overlooked by the main competition. The primary purpose of Un Certain Regard was to offer international visibility to innovative , emphasizing emerging directors and diverse cultural viewpoints that fell outside mainstream commercial . By grouping such works in a dedicated parallel program at the Salle Debussy, the section aimed to broaden the festival's scope, highlighting new trends, authorship styles, and cinematic forms from underrepresented regions and perspectives. This initiative reflected vision to diversify the festival's offerings and foster a platform for boundary-pushing creativity. The section's name, translating to "a certain regard" or a particular viewpoint, underscored its focus on distinctive artistic gazes that challenged standard cinematic expectations. Over the years, Un Certain Regard evolved from a programming sidebar into a formal competitive category with its own awards.

Role in Cannes Festival

Un Certain Regard operates as a parallel sidebar to the main In Competition section of the , forming a core component of the Official Selection alongside it. This structure allows it to highlight innovative and unconventional films without competing directly for the , providing a dedicated platform within the festival's framework. Established in 1978, it has since become integral to ' programming, screening approximately 20 feature films annually in the Salle Debussy theater. The section's schedule aligns precisely with the festival's two-week duration in May, integrating seamlessly into the overall event timeline. Screenings typically feature world premieres of international works, drawing from diverse global cinemas to enrich the festival's offerings. This timing ensures that Un Certain Regard films receive prominent visibility during the height of ' activities, fostering discussions and industry attention parallel to the main competition. By emphasizing non-Hollywood, independent, and auteur-driven productions, Un Certain Regard enhances the festival's diversity and broadens its artistic scope. It spotlights emerging trends, new narrative paths, and underrepresented countries in cinema, complementing the Palme d'Or's focus on high-profile, established prestige films. This complementary role underscores ' commitment to both innovation and tradition, creating a balanced showcase of global talent.

Historical Development

Founding and Early Years

Un Certain Regard was launched at the 1978 as an experimental sidebar section without formal awards, curated by Gilles Jacob, who had recently been appointed as the festival's General Delegate. This non-competitive initiative aimed to highlight overlooked films from around the world, grouping diverse non-mainstream categories to enhance the festival's overall diversity and spotlight innovative storytelling from underrepresented voices. In its inaugural years during the late 1970s, the section featured key screenings of works from and , fostering cultural exchange amid the era by championing films that addressed themes of repression and freedom of expression. Representative examples included the Polish film in 1978, which explored historical and political narratives, and the Argentine drama The Official Version in 1985, addressing themes of identity and dictatorship. These selections supported international dialogue by providing a platform for filmmakers from regions often sidelined in Western cinema circuits. Throughout the 1980s, Un Certain Regard expanded its scope to incorporate more cinema from and , reflecting growing global participation and the festival's new infrastructure like the Palais des Congrès. African representation emerged with South Africa's Mapantsula in 1988, an anti-apartheid thriller highlighting urban township struggles. By 1989, annual selections had grown from around 10 films in the late 1970s to 18, underscoring the section's increasing role in promoting diverse, boundary-pushing works.

Introduction of the Prize

The Prix Un Certain Regard was established in , marking the transition of the Un Certain Regard section from a non-competitive showcase—initiated in 1978 to highlight innovative films outside the main competition—into a formal competitive category at the . The inaugural award went to Killer (original title: Tueur à gages), a -French crime drama directed by Darezhan Omirbaev, which explored themes of moral ambiguity and societal decay in post-Soviet through a minimalist . Sponsored by the Gan Foundation for Cinema, this debut prize underscored the section's commitment to spotlighting bold, unconventional storytelling from emerging global voices. In its early years during the late , the selection and awarding process was overseen by a dedicated jury of film critics and professionals, ensuring a focus on artistic merit over commercial appeal. The 1998 jury, presided over by French journalist Jacques Mandelbaum and including critics Thierry Gandillot, Luc Honoré, and Pierre Murat, selected Killer from a lineup of international entries. The following year, in 1999, the jury awarded the prize to Beautiful People, a British satirical directed by Jasmin Dizdar, which wove interconnected stories of displacement and absurdity amid the , thereby elevating independent British cinema's voice in the international arena. Initially, the Prix Un Certain Regard carried a largely symbolic weight, honoring films for their "originality and audacity" in challenging conventional cinema without substantial monetary rewards, a practice that persisted until the introduction of a €30,000 cash prize in 2005. This emphasis on recognition rather than financial gain allowed the award to champion daring works, such as Omirbaev's restrained portrayal of ethical dilemmas and Dizdar's chaotic ensemble narrative, fostering a platform for pushing narrative and stylistic boundaries.

Expansion and Changes

In 2005, Un Certain Regard introduced a cash prize of €30,000, financed through a partnership with the GAN Foundation for Cinema, aimed at supporting emerging filmmakers and enhancing the section's role in nurturing innovative voices. The section underwent significant expansion in the 2010s, further developing its competitive structure established in 1998 by adding prizes such as the Prize for Best Performance in 2010 and the Jury Prize in 2013 to recognize exceptional artistic achievements. This development built on earlier additions, such as the Prize for Best Performance introduced in 2010, and later incorporated special mentions for direction, allowing juries to honor standout technical and performative contributions within the diverse international lineup. The prompted notable adaptations for Un Certain Regard in and 2021; the edition was canceled entirely due to global restrictions, while the 2021 event was rescheduled to and conducted under stringent health protocols, including mandatory testing, mask requirements, and measures to ensure safe in-person screenings. Following the pandemic, the section returned to its full pre-COVID format by 2022, with unrestricted in-person events restoring the traditional festival experience. A recent milestone came in 2025, when Chilean director Diego Céspedes' debut feature The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo won the top Un Certain Regard Prize, marking a revival of surrealist influences in the section through its blend of eccentric narrative elements and allegorical storytelling set against a historical backdrop of social marginalization.

Selection Process

Programming Criteria

The Un Certain Regard section emphasizes films that embody originality, audacity, and a distinctive perspective on cinema, often prioritizing unconventional narratives, stylistic experimentation, and rather than commercial appeal. This approach highlights works that challenge traditional storytelling and offer fresh insights into global experiences, serving as a platform for innovative voices that may not fit the main competition's focus on established prestige. Since its in 1978, the section has aimed to spotlight emerging trends and underrepresented cinematic traditions, fostering a "certain regard" on that celebrates diversity in styles, generations, and geographical origins. Selection guidelines favor debut or features from new directors, world premieres of films produced within the 12 months prior to the festival, and contributions from underrepresented regions such as , , and . For instance, recent lineups have included directorial debuts from filmmakers in , such as Mohamed Kordofani's 'Goodbye Julia' in 2023, underscoring the section's commitment to amplifying voices from less-visible territories and promoting international discovery. These preferences ensure a showcase of emerging talents, with a significant portion of selections—often around half—comprising first-time directors eligible for the award. Films eligible for Un Certain Regard are explicitly excluded from the main In Competition section to maintain distinct programming streams within the Official Selection. The section typically caps its annual lineup at approximately 20 films, curated by the festival's selection committee under the guidance of General Delegate Thierry Frémaux, who emphasizes thematic freshness and quality over rigid quotas. This curatorial process, involving delegates who review submissions year-round, prioritizes a balanced representation that evolves with contemporary global cinema, avoiding repetition and ensuring a dynamic to the festival's primary .

Jury Composition

The Un Certain Regard jury consists of five international professionals, typically including a mix of directors, actors, producers, and critics, selected annually to evaluate films in the section. This composition ensures a broad spectrum of perspectives on innovative and discovery-oriented cinema, with members drawn from various countries to promote global representation. The jury is presided over by a notable figure in the industry, appointed by the Festival de Cannes organizers, who leads discussions and facilitates decision-making. For instance, in 2025, British director and cinematographer served as president, joined by French-Swiss director Louise Courvoisier, Croatian programmer Vanja Kaludjerčić, Italian-American filmmaker Roberto Minervini, and Argentine actor Nahuel Pérez Biscayart, reflecting diversity in gender, nationality, and professional expertise. Similarly, in 2010, French director presided over the jury, emphasizing the section's focus on original voices. Jury members attend screenings at the Salle Debussy during the festival and deliberate collectively afterward in private sessions, voting to select prize winners without predefined public scoring systems beyond an emphasis on artistic originality and innovation. This process prioritizes consensus-driven judgments to highlight films that offer fresh perspectives, aligning with the section's mission to discover emerging talents.

Awards Overview

Main Prize Structure

The Prix Un Certain Regard serves as the flagship annual award in the Un Certain Regard section of the , bestowed upon a single that exemplifies exceptional and artistic risk in its storytelling and execution. This top honor recognizes works that push creative boundaries, often featuring unconventional narratives and bold stylistic choices drawn from global perspectives. The evaluates entries based on criteria such as narrative innovation, stylistic distinctiveness, and potential cultural impact, selecting the winner from approximately 20 films screened each year. Since 2005, the prize has included a monetary component of €30,000, provided by the GAN Foundation to support the winning film's distribution and further development, marking an evolution from its non-monetary origins in 1998. This financial grant distinguishes the Prix Un Certain Regard from other section awards, which typically offer recognition without direct funding, thereby aiding the winner's post-festival trajectory in a landscape dominated by non-cash honors. The award is announced during the festival's closing ceremony, presided over by a of international filmmakers and artists.

Additional Prizes

The additional prizes in the Un Certain Regard section complement the main Un Certain Regard Prize by honoring diverse facets of cinematic innovation, such as directing, performance, and writing, thereby broadening recognition beyond the top award. Introduced in the early to expand the section's competitive structure, these awards typically include the Jury Prize as a second-place honor, alongside categories for Best Director, Best Performance (encompassing and ), and special mentions for elements like screenplay or debut films. Categories vary annually to reflect the jury's emphasis on emerging talent and originality; for instance, in 2025, the Jury Prize was awarded to A Poet directed by Simón Mesa Soto, while Best Director went to Arab and Nasser for in Gaza. Performance awards highlight standout acting contributions, such as the 2025 Best Actress honor for Cleo Diára in O Riso e a Faca (I Only Rest in the Storm) and Best Actor for in Urchin. Special mentions often target specific innovations, exemplified by the 2025 Best Screenplay award for by Harry Lighton, recognizing bold narrative approaches in debut works. These secondary accolades, which have proliferated since the , generally lack cash prizes but confer substantial prestige, elevating visibility for innovative films and filmmakers on the global stage.

Winners

1990s

The 1990s represented a pivotal transition for the Un Certain Regard section at the , evolving from a non-competitive platform for innovative films since into one featuring a dedicated award. The Prix Un Certain Regard was introduced in 1998 by the Gan Foundation for Cinema to honor young talent and audacious works, marking the decade's sole shift toward formal recognition within the section. With the prize debuting late in the decade, only two films received it during the , setting a precedent for spotlighting diverse, boundary-pushing cinema from underrepresented voices. In 1998, the inaugural Prix Un Certain Regard went to Killer (Tueur à Gages), directed by Darezhan Omirbaev from . The film depicts Marat, a in , who crashes into a wealthy local's Mercedes, accruing to a leader and ultimately agreeing to assassinate a journalist to settle it. Praised for its spare, minimalist thriller approach that captures the economic desperation and moral ambiguity of post-Soviet , Killer exemplified the award's emphasis on concise, incisive storytelling. The 1999 winner was Beautiful People, written and directed by Jasmin Dizdar from the . This debut feature weaves interconnected tales of four families disrupted by Yugoslavian refugees, sparked by a bus fight between a Croat and a Serb from the same war-torn village. Celebrated for its satirical lens on , , and the ripple effects of the Bosnian conflict on British society, the comedy blends dark humor with empathy to underscore themes of unlikely human connections.

2000s

In the early 2000s, secondary awards in the Un Certain Regard section primarily consisted of special distinctions and jury prizes that highlighted innovative or debut works, often recognizing films that pushed boundaries in storytelling or cultural representation. For instance, in 2000, Eu Tu Eles directed by Andrucha Waddington received the Un Certain Regard Special Distinction for its exploration of polygamous family dynamics in rural . By 2003, the Un Certain Regard Prize went to Talaye Sorgh (Crimson Gold) by , acknowledging its raw depiction of urban despair in , while the Prix le Premier Regard went to Mille Mois for its fresh perspective on Algerian traditions. These early honors emphasized emerging voices, with categories like the Prix du Regard vers l'Avenir in 2004 recognizing Terre et Cendres by for its poignant portrayal of war's aftermath in , and the Prix du Regard Original awarded to Whisky by Juan Pablo Rebella and Pablo Stoll for its subtle humor in depicting in . Mid-decade marked the introduction of performance-focused awards, beginning in 2005 with niche recognitions such as the Prix de l'intimité for Le Filmeur by Alain Cavalier, celebrating its intimate, documentary-style reflection on filmmaking, and the Prize of Hope for Delwende by S. Pierre Yaméogo, which addressed social injustices in . This evolution continued in with the debut of dedicated acting prizes: the Un Certain Regard Award for went to Dorotheea Petre for her role in Cum mi-am petrecut sfârşitul lumii (The Way I Spent the End of the World), highlighting her nuanced performance amid Romania's late-communist era, while the award was given to Don Ángel Tavira in El Violín for embodying indigenous resilience in . Additional categories that year included the Special Jury Prize for Ten Canoes by , praising its innovative narrative structure rooted in Australian Aboriginal lore, and the Prix du Président du Jury for Meurtrières by Patrick Grandperret. By the late 2000s, the section expanded to include 4-6 secondary honors annually, supporting a broader range of innovative elements such as direction, , and special jury appreciations, often tied to films challenging societal norms. In 2007, the Special Jury Prize recognized Actrices by for its ensemble exploration of acting and personal vulnerabilities. The following year saw the Jury's Prize for Tokyo Sonata by , lauding its critique of economic malaise in ; the Knockout Prize for Tyson by , a bold documentary on the boxer's life; the Prize of Hope for Johnny Mad Dog by Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire, addressing child soldiers in ; and the "Coup de Coeur" for Wolke 9 ( 9) by Andreas Dresen, celebrating its unconventional exploration of late-life romance in . In 2009, the Jury's Prize went to Policist, Adjectiv (Police, Adjective) by Corneliu Porumboiu for its minimalist scrutiny of authority in , with Special Jury Prizes shared ex-aequo by Kasi az Gorbehaye Irani Khabar Nador (No One Knows About Persian Cats) by and Le Père de mes Enfants by Mia Hansen-Løve, recognizing their vibrant depictions of underground music in and familial grief in , respectively.
YearAward CategoryFilmDirectorNotable Focus
2000Special DistinctionEu Tu ElesAndrucha WaddingtonFamily dynamics in Brazil
2003Un Certain Regard PrizeTalaye Sorgh (Crimson Gold)Jafar PanahiUrban despair in Iran
2004Prix du Regard OriginalWhiskyJuan Pablo Rebella, Pablo StollSibling rivalry in Uruguay
2005Prize of HopeDelwendeS. Pierre YaméogoSocial justice in Burkina Faso
2006Best ActressCum mi-am petrecut sfârşitul lumiiCătălin MitulescuRomanian coming-of-age
2006Best ActorEl ViolínFrancisco VargasIndigenous resistance in Mexico
2007Special Jury PrizeActricesValeria Bruni TedeschiActing ensemble and vulnerabilities
2008Prize of HopeJohnny Mad DogJean-Stéphane SauvaireChild soldiers in Liberia
2009Special Jury Prize (ex-aequo)Kasi az Gorbehaye Irani Khabar NadorBahman GhobadiUnderground music in Iran

2010s

During the 2010s, the Un Certain Regard section expanded its secondary awards structure to recognize a broader spectrum of filmmaking achievements, introducing categories such as Best Director and Best Screenplay in 2016, alongside established honors like the Jury Prize and performance awards. This evolution reflected a commitment to highlighting innovative storytelling, debut works, and diverse voices from underrepresented regions and genders, with juries often awarding 4 to 6 secondary prizes annually from a selection of 18-20 films, many of which were first-time efforts by directors from over 20 countries. The decade saw increased emphasis on ensemble dynamics, directorial craft, and individual performances, fostering greater variety in honorees that included filmmakers from , , , and the . Jury Prizes during this period celebrated bold narrative approaches and cultural specificity, often spotlighting films that pushed formal boundaries. For instance, in 2014, the Prize went to Turist () by , a Swedish dark examining family tensions under crisis, while a Special Prize recognized the of The Tribe by Myroslav Slaboshpytskiy, a Ukrainian told entirely without dialogue or subtitles, relying on to convey a raw, immersive world of adolescent crime in a deaf . Similarly, the 2016 Prize was awarded to The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki by Juho Kuosmanen, a Finnish biographical tale of a reluctant boxer, underscoring the section's appreciation for understated and sports from Nordic cinema. These awards highlighted regional diversity, with winners hailing from countries like (, 2010 Prize) and (HR, 2015 Special Prize), promoting global perspectives on social issues. The introduction of the Best Director prize in 2016 marked a shift toward honoring technical and visionary leadership, with Matt Ross receiving the inaugural award for Captain Fantastic, an American drama about an off-grid family confronting societal norms, praised for its nuanced handling of and . Subsequent years built on this, as in 2019 when won for Beanpole (Dylda), a Russian story of resilience in Leningrad, noted for its meticulous period reconstruction and emotional depth. The Best Screenplay category, also launched in 2016, recognized scripts that blended personal and political themes, such as Delphine and Muriel Coulin's work on The Stopover (Voir du pays), a French drama exploring soldiers' reintegration, and later Mati Diop's in 2019, a Senegalese romance addressing migration and . These additions emphasized gender balance, with multiple female screenwriters and directors among the honorees. Performance awards further diversified recognition, evolving from Best Actress in 2010—awarded to Adela Sánchez, Eva Bianco, and Victoria Raposo for their roles in Los Labios (The Lips) by Ivan Fund and Santiago Loza, an Argentine exploration of female friendships—to the broader Best Performance category by the mid-decade. In 2017, earned the prize for her portrayal in Fortunata, an Italian drama about a single mother's struggles, highlighting mature female leads in . The 2018 award went to for , a Belgian coming-of-age story of a transgender ballerina, exemplifying the section's focus on authentic, layered characters facing identity challenges. Special mentions occasionally underscored debut performances, contributing to the decade's 12-15 total secondary honors that prioritized inclusive from varied cultural backgrounds.

2020s

In the 2020s, the Un Certain Regard section navigated significant disruptions from the , with the 2020 edition cancelled entirely, leading to no awards that year. The 2021 festival, delayed to and held under stringent protocols, introduced hybrid elements such as expanded virtual and a broader range of secondary prizes—totaling around 10 honors across categories—to highlight emerging voices amid global isolation. These awards increasingly emphasized social themes, including dynamics, identities, and cultural resilience, as seen in subsequent years with 10-12 recognitions per edition focusing on innovative storytelling from underrepresented regions. The 2021 secondary prizes reflected pandemic-era adaptability, awarding the Jury Prize to by Sebastian Meise for its exploration of post-war queer persecution. Additional honors included the Ensemble Prize shared by by Payal Kapadia and The Hill Where Lionesses Roar by Rigzin Dorjee, the Prize for Originality to Lamb by Valdimar , and the Prize for Courage to The Rest by Aude Léa Lapize. In 2022, the Jury Prize went to Joyland by , the first Pakistani film in official selection, addressing rights in . Other secondary awards comprised the Prize for Performance to Rim Turki in Under the Fig Trees by , the Prize for Originality to The Blue Caftan by , and Best Director to Alexandru Belc for Metronom. The 2023 edition introduced new categories like the Freedom Prize, awarded to Goodbye Julia by Mohamed Kordofani for its depiction of Sudanese civil unrest, and the New Voice Prize to (Augure) by Baloji. The Jury Prize was given to by Kamal Lazraq, while Best Director honored The Mother of All Lies by Asmae El Moudir, underscoring themes of memory and social injustice. For 2024, secondary prizes included the Youth Award for the young cast of Holy Cow (Vingt Dieux) by Louise Courvoisier, Best Actress to Anasuya Sengupta in The Shameless by Karan Kandpal, Best Actor to Abou Sangaré in L’Histoire de Souleymane (The Story of Souleymane) by Boris Lojkine, and Best Director ex aequo to Roberto Minervini for The Damned and Rungano Nyoni for On Becoming a Guinea Fowl. The Jury Prize recognized L’Histoire de Souleymane by Boris Lojkine, continuing the focus on migration and personal agency. In 2025, the Jury Prize was awarded to A Poet (Un Poeta) by Simón Mesa Soto, celebrating poetic narratives of displacement. New categories like Best Screenplay emerged, honoring Harry Lighton for , a queer drama exploring power dynamics, while Best Actress went to Cleo Diara for her role in O Riso e a Faca (I Only Rest in the Storm) by Pedro Pinho. These innovations post-pandemic highlighted experimental forms and social introspection, with special mentions for direction underscoring resilient filmmaking practices.

Other Awards

2000s

In the early 2000s, secondary awards in the Un Certain Regard section primarily consisted of special distinctions and jury prizes that highlighted innovative or debut works, often recognizing films that pushed boundaries in storytelling or cultural representation. For instance, in 2000, Eu Tu Eles directed by Andrucha Waddington received the Un Certain Regard Special Distinction for its exploration of polygamous family dynamics in rural . By 2003, the Jury's Prize - Un Certain Regard was awarded to Talaye Sorgh () by , acknowledging its raw depiction of urban despair in , while the Prix le Premier Regard went to Mille Mois for its fresh perspective on Algerian traditions. These early honors emphasized emerging voices, with categories like the Prix du Regard vers l'Avenir in 2004 recognizing Terre et Cendres by for its poignant portrayal of war's aftermath in , and the Prix du Regard Original awarded to Whisky by Juan Pablo Rebella and Pablo Stoll for its subtle humor in depicting in . Mid-decade marked the introduction of performance-focused awards, beginning in with niche recognitions such as the Prix de l'intimité for Le Filmeur by Alain Cavalier, celebrating its intimate, documentary-style reflection on filmmaking, and the Prize of Hope for Delwende by S. Pierre Yaméogo, which addressed social injustices in . This evolution continued in with the debut of dedicated acting prizes: the Un Certain Regard Award for went to Dorotheea Petre for her role in Cum mi-am petrecut sfârşitul lumii (The Way I Spent the End of the World), highlighting her nuanced performance amid Romania's late-communist era, while the award was given to Don Ángel Tavira in El Violín for embodying indigenous resilience in . Additional categories that year included the Special Jury Prize for Ten Canoes by , praising its innovative narrative structure rooted in Australian Aboriginal lore, and the Prix du Président du Jury for Meurtrières by Patrick Grandperret. By the late 2000s, the section expanded to include 4-6 secondary honors annually, supporting a broader range of innovative elements such as direction, hope, and special jury appreciations, often tied to films challenging societal norms. In 2007, the Special Jury Prize recognized Le Rêve de la Nuit d’Avant by Michale Boganim for its dreamlike examination of in , and the Jury's "Coup de Coeur" was awarded to Bikur HaTizmoret (The Band's Visit) by Eran Kolirin for its wry take on encounters. The following year saw the Jury's Prize for Tokyo Sonata by , lauding its critique of economic malaise in ; the Knockout Prize for Tyson by , a bold documentary on the boxer's life; the Prize of Hope for Johnny Mad Dog by , addressing child soldiers in Liberia; and the "Coup de Coeur" for Wolke 9 (Cloud 9) by Andreas Dresen, celebrating its unconventional exploration of late-life romance in . In 2009, the Jury's Prize went to Policist, Adjectiv (Police, Adjective) by Corneliu Porumboiu for its minimalist scrutiny of in , with Special Jury Prizes shared ex-aequo by Kasi az Gorbehaye Irani Khabar Nador (No One Knows About Persian Cats) by and Le Père de mes Enfants by Mia Hansen-Løve, recognizing their vibrant depictions of in and familial grief in , respectively.
YearAward CategoryFilmDirectorNotable Focus
2000Special DistinctionEu Tu ElesAndrucha WaddingtonFamily dynamics in
2003Jury's PrizeTalaye Sorgh ()Urban despair in
2004Prix du Regard OriginalWhiskyJuan Pablo Rebella, Pablo Stoll in
2005Prize of HopeDelwendeS. Pierre Yaméogo in
2006Cum mi-am petrecut sfârşitul lumiiCătălin MitulescuRomanian coming-of-age
2006El ViolínFrancisco VargasIndigenous resistance in
2007Special Jury PrizeLe Rêve de la Nuit d’AvantMichale BoganimImmigration in
2008Prize of HopeJohnny Mad DogChild soldiers in
2009Special Jury Prize (ex-aequo)Kasi az Gorbehaye Irani Khabar Nador in

2010s

During the 2010s, the Un Certain Regard section expanded its secondary awards structure to recognize a broader spectrum of filmmaking achievements, introducing categories such as Best Director and Best Screenplay in 2016, alongside established honors like the Jury Prize and performance awards. This evolution reflected a commitment to highlighting innovative storytelling, debut works, and diverse voices from underrepresented regions and genders, with juries often awarding 4 to 6 secondary prizes annually from a selection of 18-20 films, many of which were first-time efforts by directors from over 20 countries. The decade saw increased emphasis on ensemble dynamics, directorial craft, and individual performances, fostering greater variety in honorees that included filmmakers from , , , and the . Jury Prizes during this period celebrated bold narrative approaches and cultural specificity, often spotlighting films that pushed formal boundaries. For instance, in 2014, the Jury Prize went to Turist (Force Majeure) by , a Swedish dark examining family tensions under crisis, while a Special Jury Prize recognized the ensemble cast of The Tribe by Myroslav Slaboshpytskiy, a Ukrainian told entirely without dialogue or subtitles, relying on to convey a raw, immersive world of adolescent crime in a deaf . Similarly, the 2016 Jury Prize was awarded to The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki by Juho Kuosmanen, a Finnish biographical tale of a reluctant boxer, underscoring the section's appreciation for understated humanism and sports from Nordic cinema. These awards highlighted regional diversity, with winners hailing from countries like (October, 2010 Jury Prize) and (HR, 2015 Special Prize), promoting global perspectives on social issues. The introduction of the Best Director prize in 2016 marked a shift toward honoring technical and visionary leadership, with Matt Ross receiving the inaugural award for Captain Fantastic, an American drama about an off-grid family confronting societal norms, praised for its nuanced handling of parenting and . Subsequent years built on this, as in 2019 when won for Beanpole (Dylda), a Russian story of resilience in Leningrad, noted for its meticulous period reconstruction and emotional depth. The Best Screenplay category, also launched in 2016, recognized scripts that blended personal and political themes, such as Delphine and Muriel Coulin's work on The Stopover (Voir du pays), a French drama exploring soldiers' reintegration, and later Mati Diop's Atlantics in 2019, a Senegalese romance addressing migration and . These additions emphasized gender balance, with multiple female screenwriters and directors among the honorees. Performance awards further diversified recognition, evolving from Best Actress in 2010—awarded to Adela Sánchez, Eva Bianco, and Victoria Raposo for their roles in Matías Piñeiro's The Affections of a Woman (Los Años de una Mujer), an Argentine exploration of female friendships—to the broader Best Performance category by the mid-decade. The 2018 award went to for Like a Cat on a Highway (Una vita tutta mia), an Italian comedy-drama on motherhood and regret, exemplifying the section's focus on authentic, layered female characters. Special mentions occasionally underscored debut performances, contributing to the decade's 12-15 total secondary honors that prioritized inclusive storytelling from varied cultural backgrounds.

2020s

In the 2020s, the Un Certain Regard section navigated significant disruptions from the , with the 2020 edition cancelled entirely, leading to no awards that year. The 2021 festival, delayed to and held under stringent protocols, introduced hybrid elements such as expanded virtual and a broader range of secondary prizes—totaling around 10 honors across categories—to highlight emerging voices amid global isolation. These awards increasingly emphasized social themes, including dynamics, identities, and cultural resilience, as seen in subsequent years with 10-12 recognitions per edition focusing on innovative storytelling from underrepresented regions. The 2021 secondary prizes reflected pandemic-era adaptability, awarding the Jury Prize to by Sebastian Meise for its exploration of post-war queer persecution. Additional honors included the Ensemble Prize shared by by Payal Kapadia and The Hill Where Lionesses Roar by Rigzin Dorjee, the Prize for Originality to Lamb by Valdimar , and the Prize for Courage to The Rest by Aude Léa Lapize. In 2022, the Jury Prize went to Joyland by , the first Pakistani film in official selection, addressing rights in . Other secondary awards comprised the Prize for Performance to Rim Turki in Under the Fig Trees by , the Prize for Originality to The Blue Caftan by , and Best Director to Alexandru Belc for Metronom. The 2023 edition introduced new categories like the Freedom Prize, awarded to Goodbye Julia by Mohamed Kordofani for its depiction of Sudanese civil unrest, and the New Voice Prize to Augure (Omen) by Baloji. The Jury Prize was given to by Kamal Lazraq, while Best Director honored The Mother of All Lies by Asmae El Moudir, underscoring themes of and social injustice. For 2024, secondary prizes included Best Director to Julie Shingler for Armand, Performance Prize to for , and Originality Prize to Rúnar Rúnarsson for When the Light Breaks. The Jury Prize recognized The Story of Souleymane by Boris Lojkine, continuing the focus on migration and personal agency. In 2025, the Jury Prize was awarded to by Simón Mesa Soto, celebrating poetic narratives of displacement. New categories like Best Screenplay emerged, honoring Harry Lighton for , a drama exploring power dynamics, while Best Performance went to Cléo Diara in I Only Rest in the Storm. These innovations post-pandemic highlighted experimental forms and social introspection, with special mentions for direction underscoring resilient filmmaking practices.

References

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