In 2019 the Neon released Korean film Parasite, directed by Boon Joon Ho, won the Palme d’or at the Cannes Film Festival, then went to be awarded Best Film at the annual Academy Awards. A rare double.
This year another Neon release Fjord won the Palme d’or, this time with another Korean director, Park Chan-wook, a friend of the director of Parasite, as jury president.
Neon released films have now won all last six Palme d’ors from 2019 to 2026 (Cannes 2020 was cancelled due to Covid. )
Should we be concerned at this winning trend by Neon and should we examine the human connections in the Jury’s choice for 2026?
Critics are divided on Fjord. The Guardian’s film critic, Peter Bradshaw called it ‘a disappointment’ awarding it 2 stars out of 5.
Have juries at the annual Cannes festival ever been corrupted?
Are Cannes juries ever influenced by outside forces?
In my novel Out of Competition democracy is used in a one view, one vote method of choosing festival winners in that other famous Côte d’Azur event, the Renne-Sur-Mer Film Festival.
Is a democratic vote a better way of choosing?
Swimanög 