1998 Cannes Film Festival
The 51st Cannes Film Festival took place from 13 to 24 May 1998. American filmmaker Martin Scorsese served as jury president for the main competition. Isabelle Huppert was the host for the opening and closing ceremonies.
Greek filmmaker Theo Angelopoulos won the Palme d'Or, the festival's top prize, for the drama film Eternity and a Day.
The festival opened with Primary Colors by Mike Nichols, and closed with Godzilla by Roland Emmerich. Two new sections were added to the Official Selection: the Un Certain Regard and the Cinéfondation.
Juries
Main competition
- Martin Scorsese, American filmmaker and producer - Jury President
- Alain Corneau, French filmmaker
- Chiara Mastroianni, French actress
- Chen Kaige, Chinese filmmaker
- Lena Olin, Swedish actress
- Winona Ryder, American actress
- MC Solaar, French singer
- Zoé Valdés, Cuban filmmaker and author
- Sigourney Weaver, American actress
- Michael Winterbottom, British filmmaker
''Un Certain Regard''
- Jacques Mandelbaum, French journalist - Jury President
- Thierry Gandillot
- Luc Honorez
- Pierre Murat
''Cinéfondation'' and Short Films Competition
- Jean-Pierre Jeunet, French filmmaker - Jury President
- Emmanuelle Béart, French actress
- Arnaud Desplechin, French filmmaker
- Jaco Van Dormael, Belgian filmmaker
- Ángela Molina, Spanish actress
''Camera d'Or''
- Trần Anh Hùng, Vietnamese-French filmmaker - Jury President
- Derek Malcolm, British film critic
- Bernard Maltaverne
- Marcel Martin, film critic
- Emanuela Martini, film critic
- Jacques Poitrenaud, French director and actor
- Pierre Salvadori, French filmmaker
- Charles Van Damme, Belgian cinematographer
Official Selection
In Competition
The following feature films competed for the Palme d'Or:''Un Certain Regard''
The following films were selected for the competition of Un Certain Regard:Out of Competition
The following films were selected to be screened out of competition:Special Screenings
The following films were selected to receive a Special Screening:''Cinéfondation''
The following films were selected for the competition of Cinéfondation:Blue City by David BirdsellDeer Men by Saara SaarelaDie Weiche by Chrys KrikellisDoom and Gloom by John McKayThe First Sin by Fahimeh SorkhabiInside the Boxes by Mirjam KubeschaJakub by Adam GuzinskiMud by Ivaylo P. SimidchievMangwana by Manu KurewaOne Eye by Liana DogniniThe Photographer by Alexander KottThe Rose of the Railroad by Hanna MaylettThe Sheep Thief by Asif KapadiaSummer-Time by Ramunas GreiciusWild Paths by Susanna GrigolettoShort Films Competition
The following short films competed for the Short Film Palme d'Or:9'8 M/S2 by Alfonso Amador, Nicolas MendezBalkanska Ruleta by Zdravko BarisicEnfant, Gribouillage, Photos de Famille by Jun-hong LinFetch by Lynn-Maree DanzeyGasman by Lynne RamsayHappy Birthday to Me by Martin MahonHorseshoe by David LodgeI Want You by Gregory QuailKiyida by Ebru YapiciL'Interview by Xavier GiannoliSkate by Eun-Ryung ChoParallel sections
International Critics' Week
The following films were screened for the 37th International Critics' Week :Feature film competitionThe Bed by Oskar Reif Christmas in August by Hur Jin-Ho I Stand Alone by Gaspar Noé Memory & Desire by Niki Caro The Polish Bride by Karim Traïdia Sitcom by François Ozon Torrente, el brazo tonto de la ley by Santiago Segura
Short film competitionBrutalos by Christophe Billeter, David Leroy Down, Across by Erland Øverby Flight by Sim Sadler Der Hausbesorger by Stephan Wagner Milk by Andrea Arnold Por un infante difunto by Tinieblas González The Rogers’ Cable by Jennifer Kierans
Directors' Fortnight
The following films were screened for the 1998 Directors' Fortnight :Babyface by Jack BlumCantique de la racaille by Vincent RavalecChacun pour soi by Bruno BontzolakisDisparus by Gilles BourdosHappiness by Todd SolondzHead On by Ana KokkinosHigh Art by Lisa CholodenkoHinterland by Jacques NolotL’homme qui rit by Paul LeniLaisse un peu d'amour by Zaïda Ghorab-VoltaLast Night by Don McKellarLe Nain rouge by Yvan Le MoineNotes of Love by Mimmo CaloprestiOf Freaks and Men by Alexeï BalabanovRequiem by Alain TannerSlam by Marc LevinSlums Of Beverly Hills by Tamara JenkinsSpring In My Hometown by Kwangmo LeeThe Stringer by Paul PawlikowskiLa Vie Sur Terre by Abderrahmane SissakoWest Beyrouth by Ziad DoueiriA table by Idit Cébula Le Bleu du ciel by Christian Dor Open Bodies by Sébastien Lifshitz Electrons statiques by Jean-Marc Moutout Les Pinces à linge by Joël Brisse Rue bleue by Chad ChenougaOfficial Awards
The following films and people received the 1998 Official selection awards:In Competition
- Palme d'Or: Eternity and a Day by Theodoros Angelopoulos
- Grand Prize of the Jury: Life Is Beautiful by Roberto Benigni
- Best Director: John Boorman for The General
- Best Screenplay: Henry Fool by Hal Hartley
- Best Actress: Élodie Bouchez and Natacha Régnier for The Dreamlife of Angels
- Best Actor: Peter Mullan for My Name Is JoeBest Artistic Contribution: Velvet Goldmine by Todd Haynes
- Jury Prize:
- * The Celebration by Thomas Vinterberg
- * Class Trip by Claude Miller
''[Un Certain Regard]''
''[Cinéfondation]''
First Prize: Jakub by Adam GuzinskiSecond Prize: The Sheep Thief by Asif KapadiaThird Prize: Mangwana by Manu Kurewa''[Caméra d'Or]''
- Slam by Marc Levin
[Short Film Palme d'Or]
- L'interview by Xavier Giannoli
- Jury Prize:
- *Horseshoe by David Lodge
- *Gasman by Lynne Ramsay
Independent awards
FIPRESCI Prizes">FIPRESCI">FIPRESCI Prizes
The Hole by Tsai Ming-liang Happiness by Todd Solondz''Commission Supérieure Technique''
[Prize of the Ecumenical Jury]
Eternity and a Day by Theodoros AngelopoulosEcumenical Jury - Special Award: Ingmar BergmanAward of the Youth
- Foreign Film: Last Night by Don McKellar
- French Film: Hinterland by Jacques Nolot
International Critics' Week
- Mercedes-Benz Award: I Stand Alone by Gaspar Noé
- Canal+ Award: Por un infante difunto by Tinieblas González
- Grand Golden Rail: The Polish Bride by Karim Traïdia
- Small Golden Rail: Down, Across by Erland Øverby
Directors' Fortnight
- Kodak Short Film Award:
- *Open Bodies by Sébastien Lifshitz
- *Rue bleue by Chad Chenouga
- Gras Savoye Award: Rue bleue by Chad Chenouga