Cannes 2025: The Rollercoaster Ride of Julia Ducournau's Palme d'Or Win

Cannes 2025: Julia Ducournau Recalls Spike Lee's Surprise Palme d'Or Announcement The 2025 Cannes Film Festival provided a stage for an unexpected reunion. Filmmaker Julia Ducournau, winner of the Palme d'Or in 2021, sat down with France.tv to discuss the moment Spike Lee, then jury president, prematurely revealed her win. Ducournau described the experience in an exclusive interview, saying, "It was like a rollercoaster." Initially, she felt fear, unsure if the announcement was accurate. She admitted, "I thought there was something wrong." The uncertainty lingered until the official announcement, a testament to the high-stakes nature of the prestigious award. Ducournau's story offers a unique behind-the-scenes look at the emotions and pressures faced by filmmakers at Cannes, highlighting the human side of cinematic achievement. This unexpected revelation adds a layer of intrigue to the history of the Palme d'Or, and Ducournau's candidness humanizes the experience of success in the competitive world of cinema. The interview serves as a reminder of the unexpected twists and turns that can occur even at the most prestigious film festivals.