The 79th edition of the Cannes Film Festival is officially underway, and among the first faces to step into the spotlight were the five-strong jury assembled to award this year’s Camera d’Or — the festival’s prestigious prize recognising the world’s best debut feature film.
Gathered on the Croisette for their official photocall on May 13, the jury is led by a sharp cross-section of cinematic talent. Canadian director Monia Chokri, whose own debut La femme de mon frère announced her as a bold new voice in Quebec cinema, takes her place alongside French directors Marine Francen and Christophe Massie — the latter also serving as Director of Eclair, one of France’s most storied post-production houses.
Rounding out the jury are French photo director Michel Benjamin and film critic Cédric Coppola, bringing both a visual and critical lens to the deliberations.
The Camera d’Or has long served as Cannes’ most forward-looking award — a marker of emerging talent rather than established prestige. Past winners including Jacques Audiard (Regarde les hommes tomber, 1994) illustrate the kind of fearless first-time filmmaking the prize celebrates.
With a bumper slate of first features competing across multiple sidebar sections this year, the jury faces no shortage of contenders. The Camera d’Or winner will be announced at the closing ceremony.
Photo: Thibaud MORITZ / AFP via Getty Images