Marine Atlan’s La Gradiva has won the Grand Prix in the independent Critics’ Week sidebar at the Cannes Film Festival.
The film was chosen by a jury led by president Payal Kapadia, and fellow jurors Ama Ampadu, Donsaron Kovitvanitcha, Oklou and Theodore Pellerin.
Atlan, whose credits as a cinematographer include 2025’s The Girl In The Snow, makes her feature directing debut with a film about a group of French high schoolers on a trip to Pompeii, who experience intense emotions and unexpected events during their visit to the ancient city. The film is produced by France’s Les Films du Poisson and co-produced by Italy’s Bibi Films.
The Rising Star award, presented by the Louis Roederer Foundation, went to Aina Clotet for Alive. Catalan actress Clotet makes her feature directing debut and also stars in the film, a tragicomedy about a 40-year-old woman who starts a passionate relationship with two different men in the wake of a life-threatening illness.
Dua filmmakers Blerta Basholli and Nicole Borgeat won the SACD award.
The awards for Cannes’ Official Selection will be handed out in the festival ceremony on Saturday, May 23.
Cannes Critics’ Week 2026 prizes
Grand Prix – La Gradiva, dir. Marine Atlan
Rising Star award – Aina Clotet for Alive
Distribution award - A Girl Unknown, dir. Zou Jiung
Short film prize – Skinny Boots, dir. Romain F. Dubois
Partner prizes
SACD award – Blerta Basholli and Nicole Borgeat for Dua
Canal+ award – A Bule Named Yanto, dir. Berthold Wahjudi
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