Cannes' Directors' Fortnight Debuts Audience Award Honoring Chantal Akerman

The new People's Choice Award, supported by the Chantal Akerman Foundation, invites festival attendees to vote, marking a historic first for Cannes.

Cannes' Directors' Fortnight section introduces its first audience award, named in honor of the late Belgian director Chantal Akerman.
The award, with a prize of €7,500, will be determined by audience votes and aims to celebrate unique cinematic expressions.
Chantal Akerman's pioneering and independent vision is highlighted as a guiding principle for the award.
The Directors' Fortnight has a history of showcasing Akerman's work, including her 1975 masterpiece 'Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce – 1080 Brussels'.
The introduction of the People's Choice Award marks a significant moment in Cannes' history, being the first audience award across its sections.