Agnès Varda, an iconic figure of the French New Wave movement, will receive an Honorary Palme d’Or at the Cannes closing ceremony. The Palme d’Or is the festival’s highest honor. The auteur’s 1962 film Cléo de 5 à 7 (Cléo from 5 to 7) remains an iconic fixture in the New Wave canon, marking the beginning of her illustrious career. Varda has remained a creative powerhouse for over four decades; producing more than 30 films alongside numerous fine art installations and photographic exhibitions.
The award celebrates the global impact of a director who has never previously won the Palme d’Or, yet has made a profound impact on the shape of filmmaking. Previous recipients of the Honorary Palme d’Or include Clint Eastwood and Bernardo Bertolucci. Not that Varda is bothered by such company, ironically complaining that her “films have never sold as much as theirs!”
Credits
Text Isabelle Hellyer
Image via The Criterion Collection