Sebastian Stan discussed his role in the Palme d’Or-winning film Fjord and his upcoming work on The Batman: Part II during the closing events of the 79th Cannes Film Festival. The actor, who plays a Romanian family man navigating religious tensions in a small Norwegian town, described the project as one that raises questions about divisiveness and personal doubt. Stan, who shaved his head and wore simple costumes for the part, emphasized the film's exploration of immigrant experiences and family conflicts with local authorities.
Stan is set to begin shooting The Batman: Part II in London this summer, where he will portray Harvey Dent, the district attorney who becomes Two-Face. He told interviewers he feels both excited and nervous about the transition from the Marvel Cinematic Universe to the DC universe under director Matt Reeves. The character’s disfigurement will be handled by the film’s hair and makeup teams, and Stan said he aims to keep surprising himself with each new role.
The film Fjord, directed by Cristian Mungiu, centers on a family whose strong Christian beliefs lead to accusations of violence toward their children, resulting in the kids being placed with foster parents. Stan, who immigrated to the United States from Romania at age 12, expressed particular empathy for the children in the story who struggle to fit in between conflicting messages from society and their parents. He noted the jury’s decision to award the Palme d’Or was brave for highlighting such themes of extremism and the need for self-doubt.
Tilda Swinton, who presented the top prize at the closing ceremony in the Grand Theatre Auditorium Louis Lumière, defended the festival’s selections against critics who called it a weak year. She argued that the films were substantial and specific, focusing on difference and human experiences that mainstream culture often avoids. Swinton said the honored movies serve as messages that will reach audiences worldwide and encourage discussion among young viewers who prefer the collective experience of theaters.
Swinton also addressed concerns about artificial intelligence in cinema, stating that humans must create better art than AI can produce. She pointed out that formulaic films might be vulnerable, but the particular and messy stories celebrated at Cannes reflect real human experiences and ensure the medium’s future. Cinema has adapted through past challenges like sound, color, and streaming, she added, and remains elastic enough to survive.
Other winners shared the spotlight at the post-ceremony party on the Majestic Beach. Stellan Skarsgård, a jury member, explained that the panel compromised by awarding shared prizes when full agreement proved difficult, including dual best director honors for Javier Calvo, Javier Ambrossi, and Pawel Pawlikowski. Similar shared acting awards went to Emmanuel Macchia and Valentin Campagne for Coward, as well as Virginie Efira and Tao Okamoto for All Of A Sudden.
Twenty-year-old Emmanuel Macchia, who won best actor despite having no prior acting experience, was studying landscape architecture when director Lukas Dhont cast him in Coward. He said he never imagined winning alongside established performers and now wants to pursue roles that carry a good message. His parents accompanied him to Cannes and expressed surprise at the outcome, while agents have begun approaching him with new projects, including one set during the Boer War.
Penélope Cruz commented on the youthfulness of the directors behind La Bola Negra, which also received recognition. The festival’s audio signature, Camille Saint-Saëns’ Aquarium from The Carnival of Animals, played before premieres, and Swinton described the theater experience as magical, likening the screen to the bride at a wedding while attendees serve as bridesmaids.
Skarsgård is scheduled to begin filming an untitled Apple criminal adventure series with Dakota Fanning in July, shooting in both the United States and France. He described his character as a rich, probably shady figure and noted the convenience of direct flights from Stockholm to New York. The series follows his work on Sentimental Value, which won the Grand Prix at the previous Cannes festival.
Attendees at the late-night gathering included Zoe Saldaña, Penélope Cruz, Isabelle Huppert, and Rami Malek, who stayed until the early hours. Demi Moore left before 11 p.m., while the party continued with dancing and conversations overlooking the sea. Swinton’s traveling exhibition Tilda Swinton – Ongoing recently opened in Athens after Amsterdam and is headed to Warsaw in September, with planned stops in the United Kingdom and United States.
The festival highlighted films that reflect current global tensions while offering hope for cinema’s adaptability. Stan expressed optimism about taking on socially aware projects after completing The Batman: Part II, and Swinton reaffirmed that as long as filmmakers prioritize human stories over formula, the art form will endure. Young audiences, she observed, continue seeking out these substantial works for shared viewing and debate with friends.