Romanian director Cristian Mungiu's 'Fjord' wins Palme d'Or at Cannes 2026
Feature film 'Fjord', directed by Romanian filmmaker Cristian Mungiu, won the Palme d'Or trophy at the 79th edition of the Cannes Film Festival, according to the event's official website.
In 'Fjord', Romanian filmmaker Cristian Mungiu sets the story in Norway, where a deeply religious Romanian-Norwegian evangelical couple, played by Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve, settle with their five children and initially appear to integrate seamlessly into a society that prides itself on tolerance and respect for minorities.
Everything changes abruptly, however, when suspicions of domestic violence against the children emerge. Norwegian authorities begin viewing the couple critically, questioning their strict upbringing - which excludes YouTube and smartphones - as well as criticising their religious beliefs.
Tensions escalate until child placement proceedings are initiated, including against the youngest sibling, a newborn still being breastfed by the mother.
'Fjord' is a film about the difficulty of understanding someone who thinks differently, a story about polarisation, the inability to engage in dialogue, the things that divide people and those that still keep them together.
'This film is a message about tolerance, inclusion and empathy. They are magnificent concepts that we all cherish, but which we should put into practice more often,' Cristian Mungiu said in his acceptance speech for the Palme d'Or award.
He was joined on stage by the film's two lead actors, Renate Reinsve and Sebastian Stan. 'We will have to wait 20 years to watch these films again and see which of them withstand the test of time,' the Romanian director also said.
Cristian Mungiu returned to Cannes' official competition with the same artistic courage that earned him the Palme d'Or in 2007 for '4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days', the Best Screenplay award in 2012 for 'Beyond the Hills' and the Best Director award in 2016 for 'Graduation'.
In 2025, the Palme d'Or was awarded to 'It Was Just an Accident', directed by Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi.
The 79th awards gala on the Croisette took place at the Palais des Festivals et des Congres in Cannes. The ceremony was hosted by French actress Eye Haidara, while the official competition jury was chaired by South Korean director Park Chan-wook. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Florin Badescu; EN - writing by: Simona Iacob)
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