The Palme d'Or, a direct reference to the Cannes coat of arms

The legendary trophy has been awarded since 1955. Before that, since the first Cannes Film Festival officially launched in 1946 (the initial 1939 edition having been cancelled by the outbreak of World War II), the winners received the Grand Prix of the International Film Festival. This was primarily an honorary distinction awarded by the jury, and its physical form varied from year to year: it could be a statuette, or another symbolic object, created by a popular contemporary artist, and designed specifically for the occasion. So, not yet a standardized Palme d'Or. But already an internationally recognized title, a true distinction marking cinematic excellence. And a symbol already closely associated with the city of Cannes, since it appears on the city's coat of arms and is also part of its motto, " Praemium palma victori ," which means " the palm belongs to the victor ." Legend has it that Saint Honorat obtained from God the destruction of the venomous snakes that infested the Island of Lérins, thanks to a tidal wave which he survived by climbing into a palm tree, so as not to be swept away by the waves.

The coat of arms of the city of Cannes: Azure, a silver palm placed in a bar, accompanied by two gold fleurs-de-lys

Robert Favre le Bret, an inseparable figure of the Cannes Film Festival, behind the Palme d'Or

The idea of ​​the Palme d'Or as a trophy emerged in 1954 at the initiative of Robert Favre le Bret (1904–1987), a former French journalist who worked notably for Paris Match. He was in charge of artistic and cultural matters at the Commissariat au Tourisme when he was entrusted with the position of Secretary General for the first edition of the Cannes Film Festival in 1946. He then served as General Delegate between 1952 and 1972 – one of the key roles in the organization and management of the event – ​​and as President from 1972 to 1983. Robert Favre le Bret is an absolutely inseparable figure from the Cannes Film Festival, which he brought into being and grew into the scale we know today, from a gathering of amateurs bringing together 600 people to a gigantic market bringing together 40,000 film professionals and visitors from all over the world. He also knew how to expand the event, for example giving carte blanche to the French Association of Film Critics to create a new section: Critics' Week.

The jury members of the Cannes Film Festival pose on the terrace of the Palais des Festivals, 13th May 1977. From left to right, Maurice Bessy (1910 - 1993), G. Jacob, Carlos Fuentes, Roberto Rossellini (1906 - 1977), Benoite Groult, Marthe Keller, Jacques Demy (1931 - 1990), Pauline Kael (1919 - 2001), Anatole Dauman (1925 - 1998), festival director Robert Favre le Bret and writer Dr N'Sougan Agblemagnon. (Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Clearly keen to give the Cannes Film Festival a stronger and more recognizable identity—the Venice Film Festival had its Lion, the Berlinale its Bear—he proposed using the palm as the symbol of the highest award. This idea was met with unanimous approval and was quickly implemented: the Cannes Film Festival Board of Directors issued a call for tenders to several jewelers across Europe. The proposal from the French painter, engraver, and jeweler Lucienne Lazon was selected and used from 1955 onwards. The jewelry designer, born in Cambrai, in northern France, in 1910, had already exhibited her work at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, and several critics had already praised the ingenuity of her creations. A trophy was developed based on her design: the Palme d'Or was born! The first film to win it was a romantic comedy, Marty , by the American director Delbert Mann, which also won an Oscar the following year.

The modernization of the Palme d'Or by the jeweler Chopard

From its first use in 1955, the Palme d'Or was awarded for ten years, notably to Marcel Camus for Black Orpheus in 1959, Luis Buñuel for Viridiana in 1961, and Luchino Visconti for The Leopard in 1963… but in 1964, the prestigious trophy was discontinued due to a lack of funding. The following ten years were therefore marked by the return of the admittedly less iconic Grand Prix of the Cannes Film Festival: no Palme d'Or for Claude Lelouch, winner of A Man and a Woman in 1966, nor for Francis Ford Coppola for The Conversation in 1974. The award made its grand return in 1975, presented in a red leather case lined with white suede. A few years later, in 1982, it even made its appearance on the official poster in the form of a logo, further strengthening its link with the festival and the imagery associated with it.

In 1998, our iconic Palme d'Or entered a new era, taking on the form we know today, resting on its rectangular, beveled crystal cushion, which beautifully showcases a 19-leaf palm leaf lacquered in yellow gold. Its creation and production were entrusted to the legendary Swiss jewelry house Chopard, under the presidency of Pierre Viot and the artistic direction of Caroline Scheufele. A true feat of jewelry making, it takes place in Chopard's workshops, at the heart of the Meyrin manufacture near Geneva, Switzerland. Each palm leaf, handcrafted, requires 40 hours of work and the expertise of seven artisans, and the gold used has been certified eco-responsible since 2014 (Fairmined, as part of The Journey program launched by Chopard in 2013 to promote a more ethical and responsible luxury industry). The Greek director Theo Angelopoulos was the first recipient, for his film Eternity and One Day in 1998… and it will continue to be Sean Baker in 2024 for Anora . And, as you may have noticed, Robert De Niro will also receive the award for his lifetime achievement, at the opening of the 78th Cannes Film Festival, which promises to continue dazzling us.

CANNES, FRANCE - MAY 13: Robert De Niro (R) accepts the honorary Palme d'Or from Leonardo DiCaprio onstage during the opening ceremony at the 78th annual Cannes Film Festival at the Palais de Festival on May 13, 2025 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)