The 55th Cannes Film Festival awarded Roman Polanski the Palme d'Or for The Pianist and introduced the inaugural Honorary Palme d'Or.
Key Facts
- Edition
- 55th Cannes Film Festival
- Dates
- 15–26 May 2002
- Jury President
- David Lynch
- Palme d'Or Winner
- The Pianist (Roman Polanski)
- Honorary Palme d'Or
- Woody Allen (inaugural recipient)
- Host
- Virginie Ledoyen
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The Cannes Film Festival, held annually on the French Riviera, selects a jury president and international jury each year to evaluate films in competition. In 2002, American filmmaker David Lynch was chosen to preside over the jury for the 55th edition, with a lineup of films from around the world submitted for consideration.
The 55th Cannes Film Festival ran from 15 to 26 May 2002 in Cannes, France. Roman Polanski's drama The Pianist received the Palme d'Or, the festival's highest honor. The edition also introduced the Honorary Palme d'Or, with Woody Allen as its first recipient. The festival opened with Allen's Hollywood Ending and closed with Claude Lelouch's And Now... Ladies and Gentlemen.
Polanski's Palme d'Or win brought renewed international attention to The Pianist, which went on to receive widespread critical acclaim and multiple Academy Awards including Best Director for Polanski. The inauguration of the Honorary Palme d'Or established a new tradition at Cannes recognizing directors with distinguished careers who had not previously won the main prize.