Cate Blanchett attends the 78th Cannes Film Festival closing ceremony, she and jury president Juliette Binoche presented the festival’s top prize, Palme d’Or, to Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi for his film IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT. Cate wore a custom-made Louis Vuitton black halter-neck gown made from repurposed fabric.

Cate was also at the after-party to celebrate Un Certain Regard winners the night before. She was seen congratulating the filmmakers behind I ONLY REST IN THE STORM, directed by Pedro Pinho, which picked up the Best Actress award for Cleo Diára’s performance.

Displacement Film Fund

This is a new interview with Dutch newspaper. More on the press conference here.

Before the hall is filled with countless interested journalists, the initiators take some time especially for De Telegraaf, as the fund was launched in Rotterdam at the film festival (IFFR) earlier this year.

IFFR’s business director, Clare Stewart, is delighted with Blanchett: “We are very lucky that someone like Cate, who in addition to her work as an actress is also an ambassador for the UN refugee agency UNHCR, wanted to give this project a big boost. The way the initiative came together was pure coincidence.”

Koji Yanai immediately picks up on that. Yanai is the CEO of clothing giant Uniqlo and a successful film producer. “I happened to be sitting at a table with Cate and a few other people from the film world during a UNHCR meeting. When each table was asked to come up with an original plan for the future, we came up with the idea for this fund within five minutes. More than a year later we were presenting it in Rotterdam.”

Uniqlo, as one of the larger partners, donated 100,000 euros for the making of five short films by experienced filmmakers, which will be presented at the IFFR next year. The makers come from countries such as Syria, Iran and Afghanistan, but despite the challenging circumstances there, they have a strong track record. “We want to emphasize experienced filmmakers, in order to attract a larger audience and have more impact,” Stewart continues.

Blanchett emphasizes the importance of the fund: “There is often too much talk about such initiatives, but you just have to do it. That is why we are starting now with these five short films and hope to support many more makers after that. I am happy that so many people are enthusiastic about this project and that it is supported by festivals such as Rotterdam. We will hopefully see you there again next year. Let us then also bring all those invisible talents to the surface.”

Full interview on De Telegraaf

From left to right: Maryna Er Gorbach, Mo Harawe, Clare Stewart and Cate Blanchett

Cannes Closing Ceremony

The 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival concludes today with the Closing Ceremony and presentation of the coveted award, the Palme d’Or, which was awarded to Jafar Panahi for the film It Was Just an Accident.

The Jury, chaired by director Juliette Binoche, was tasked with awarding the Palme d’Or to one of the 21 films in the Competition. The jury included Halle Berry, Payal Kapadia, Alba Rohrwacher, Leïla Slimani, Dieudo Hamadi, Hong Sangsoo, Carlos Reygadas and Jeremy Strong.

Iranian director Jafar Panahi, who has previously been put in prison and banned from film-making in his home country, spoke out against the restrictions of the regime after winning the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival.

Panahi picked up the prestigious Palme d’Or for It Was Just an Accident, described by BBC Culture as “a furious but funny revenge thriller that takes aim at oppressive regimes”.

He was cheered as he urged fellow Iranians to “set aside” differences and problems.

“What’s most important now is our country and the freedom of our country,” he said. “Let us join forces. No-one should dare tell us what kind of clothes we should wear, what we should do, or what we should not do.”

Cannes International Film Festival 2025. #LouisVuitton dressed House Ambassador #CateBlanchett in a custom black silk crêpe halter-neck gown by #NicolasGhesquiere, with a silk organza scarf, trimmed with lace frills made from repurposed fabric, and #LVHighJewelry.#Cannes2025 pic.twitter.com/y6pIIeE7Mx

— Louis Vuitton (@LouisVuitton) May 27, 2025

Cate Blanchett (via Rossy de Palma’s Instagram)