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The jury:

Liv Ullmann, Norwegian actress and director - Jury President
Mimmo Calopresti, Italian filmmaker and actor
Charlotte Gainsbourg, English-French actress and singer
Terry Gilliam, British filmmaker and actor
Mathieu Kassovitz, French actor and filmmaker
Sandrine Kiberlain, French actress
Philippe Labro, French director and author
Julia Ormond, British actress
Moufida Tlatli, Tunisian filmmaker and editor
Edward Yang, Taiwanese filmmaker

It's interesting to compare Cannes with the Academy Awards and ask whether the former has tended to nominate or choose winners with any more justice than the latter.

Matthew Fisher wrote: Thu Sep 11, 2025 7:05 pm It's interesting to compare Cannes with the Academy Awards and ask whether the former has tended to nominate or choose winners with any more justice than the latter.

We did a list project looking at the top prize here that might be helpful for pondering this question

We did a list project looking at the top prize here that might be helpful for pondering this question

I appreciate the helpful hint, thanks.

Matthew Fisher wrote: Thu Sep 11, 2025 7:05 pm It's interesting to compare Cannes with the Academy Awards and ask whether the former has tended to nominate or choose winners with any more justice than the latter.

I'm sure there is still money and influence involved, but I don't think Cannes pretends to make any concession to industry trends. It is a one-off small jury of mixed peers and celebs and that is it. If you consider that Lynch won with Wild at Heart of all things, that comes into focus, as it was not a critical favorite. I think the joy of Cannes is more viewing the competition selections than the actual winners. It is interesting however that Ullmann was unmoved by the obvious Persona feels of Mulholland Drive. Also reviewing this posthumously, I think Lynch is far more respected now than he ever was in his lifetime, when he was somewhat divisive. Also, when this came out we though we would certainly be getting a half-dozen more Mulholland Drives, being a fan, the Twin Peaks final season was a bit of a dream come true in that respect.

I understand that a definitive explanation of Mulholland Drive is not possible.
However, one of the interpretations widely considered is that the first 1.5 hours of so represents a dream or fantasy of Betty/Diane, re-imagining what happened in a way favorable to her character. The subsequent part shows what actually happened, and what kind of person Betty truly was. my question is this: Was Rita/Camila actually killed in the car accident or by the hired killers? I believe she was, and the trauma of that led Betty/Diane to commit suicide. Responses to this interpretation, and alternate views, will be appreciated.