The female ensemble of Jacques Audiard's police musical Emilia Perez — Selena Gomez, Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón and Adriana Paz — received the best actress award at the prestigious gala ceremony of the 2024 Cannes Film Festival on Saturday night (May 25).
“Women together — that's something we wanted to honor when we made this award,” said the president of the Cannes jury and Barbie Director Greta Gerwig said of the joint victory, according to The Hollywood Reporter. “Each of them is separate, but together transcendent.”
In a groundbreaking moment for the trans community, Emilia Perez The Gascón star, who accepted the ensemble cast award with a tearful speech, is the first transgender actress to win at Cannes. The Spanish-language musical/crime pic about a Mexican drug lord (Gascon) who embraces her true identity as a woman also received the Jury Prize at this year's festival.
Gomez was in Cannes for the film's premiere, press and photo calls earlier in the week, but not at Saturday's gala. She plays the wife of Gascon's character in the film.
The singer-actress learned the news of her win via a phone call from co-star Saldaña. “When @zoesaldana told me we all won Best Actress!!” Gomez captioned a reaction video on her Instagram Story, in which she can be seen sitting outdoors and her excitement is palpable.
The Golden Palm, the festivals top honor, was awarded to Sean Baker's Anora. The Grand Prix went to Payal Kapadia's Everything We Imagine As Light. by Mohammed Rasulov The Seed of Sacred Sik received a special jury award and Jesse Plemmons won best actor for his work George LanthimosKindness Items.
George Lucas was awarded an honorary Palme d'Or on Saturday for his contribution to cinema since 1971, when he made his directorial debut, THX-1138received a nod in the Directors section for Cannes Fortnight.
Cannes 2024 Winners List:
Golden Palm
Sean Baker, Anora
Grand Prix
Everything We Imagine As Light
Jury Prize
Emilia Perez
Best Director
Miguel Gomez, Grand Tour
Best Screenplay
Coralie Fargeat, The Essence
Best Actress
Adriana Paz, Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofia Gascón, Selena Gomez, Emilia Perez
Best actor
Jesse Plemons, Kindness items
Honorary Golden Palm
George Lucas
Special Award
Mohammed Rasulov, The Seed of Sacred Sik
Golden Camera for Best First Film
Halfdan Ullman Tondel, Arman
Golden Palm for Best Short Film
Nebojsa Slijepcevic, The man who couldn't keep quiet
