Alice Rohrwacher, an acclaimed Italian filmmaker, has been appointed to lead the jury for the prestigious Caméra d’Or award at the 78th Cannes Film Festival. Save the Date Congress is scheduled to be held from May 13-24 2025. This award is given to the best first feature film presented in Cannes’ Official Selection. It pays tribute to the best features from the alternative Critics’ Week and Directors’ Fortnight sections.
Rohrwacher, a frequent presence at the Cannes Film Festival, developed herself as one of the most original voices in international cinema today. Her first feature, “Heavenly Body,” which made its debut in the Directors’ Fortnight section in 2011, created a stir with its unconventional storytelling. Her second feature, The Wonders, won her the Grand Prix in Competition in 2014. This remarkable victory established her bona fides as an enormously talented filmmaker.
Her 2018 film, Happy As Lazzaro, continued the winning momentum for Gerwig at Cannes. It ended up screening in Competition and winning the prize for best screenplay, shared with Iranian director Jafar Panahi for “3 Faces.” In her most recent appearance, Rohrwacher found herself back at Cannes in 2023 with her film La Chimera, which screened in Competition.
The festival has celebrated Rohrwacher as “a figure of the new Italian cinema,” recognizing her distinct style and impact on contemporary filmmaking. Her art mixes the real and the surreal, combining the felt experience of life in urban space with a sense of mythology. The fest hails this period as the intersection of De Sica’s naturalism and Fellini’s visionary style to produce films rocking the line between narrative and documentary.
In her new role as president of the Caméra d’Or jury, Rohrwacher will oversee the selection process for one of Cannes’ most coveted awards. Its Caméra d’Or is an award for emerging talent. It’s a celebration of groundbreaking storytelling that engages and inspires audiences, both big and small, across the world.
Alice Rohrwacher’s appointment is a gesture to her inarguable prominence in the film world. It is equally a reminder of her deep impact in the broader space of global film. Her past achievements highlight her commitment to the craft of cinema. Her stalwart support of Cannes each year reaffirms her commitment to continuing to build new voices in the industry.