The Cannes Film Festival and Swiss jeweller Chopard share one of the most enduring partnerships in the cultural world. Since 1998, every Palme d'Or awarded on the Croisette has been handcrafted in Chopard's Geneva ateliers, a collaboration rooted in a mutual respect for artistry and precision. At the 79th edition, held in May 2026, this relationship was on full display, from the iconic trophy to a new generation of cinematic talent.
The Trophée Chopard: Nurturing Tomorrow's Stars
Beyond the Palme d'Or, Chopard's most direct contribution to the festival's future is the Trophée Chopard, an award created in 2001 by Caroline Scheufele, the maison's Co-President and Artistic Director. This prize honours emerging actors, with past recipients including Marion Cotillard, Adèle Exarchopoulos, and Jessie Buckley. This year, the award was presented on 15 May at an official dinner on Carlton Beach, with French actress Isabelle Huppert serving as Godmother—a role that underscores the award's mission of mentorship.
Huppert, a two-time Best Actress winner at Cannes and a César, Golden Globe, and BAFTA laureate, embodies the fearless artistry the Trophée Chopard champions. "Isabelle Huppert has been a longtime friend of the Maison, and our bond is rooted in a deep artistic affinity," said Scheufele. "Her role as Godmother felt entirely natural to me, as we share the same belief in transmission, mentorship and the importance of championing emerging talent."
The 2026 recipients were American actress Odessa A'zion, who earned a BAFTA nomination for her role in Marty Supreme opposite Timothée Chalamet, and British actor Connor Swindells, known for his role in Sex Education and appearances in Greta Gerwig's Barbie and Steven Knight's SAS Rogue Heroes. Swindells remarked, "The Trophée Chopard means a great deal to me. To receive it at the Cannes Film Festival, a place where cinema is so deeply celebrated, makes it feel even more special." Huppert added, "This prize honours that fragile, exhilarating moment when a career is still being shaped, a time of intuition, courage and freedom."
The Palme d'Or: A Symbol of Cinematic Excellence
The Palme d'Or remains the festival's most coveted prize, and each trophy requires over 70 hours of artisanal work, including wax casting, precision gold melting, and meticulous hand-polishing. Since 2014, Chopard has used certified 100% ethical gold, reflecting its broader commitment to sustainable luxury. Scheufele described the trophy as "more than a trophy: it is a declaration of love for cinema. Each leaflet, each glimmer of crystal carries within it the universal dream of storytelling that resonates across the world."
Past winners include Francis Ford Coppola, Jane Campion, Ken Loach, Bong Joon-ho, and Justine Triet. This year, the jury, presided over by South Korean director Park Chan-wook, will decide the recipient, continuing a tradition where cinematic art and jewellery craftsmanship converge.
Miracles: 79 Creations for the 79th Edition
Each year, Chopard unveils a Red Carpet Collection tied to the festival's edition number. For the 79th edition, the maison presented 79 pieces under the theme Miracles, inspired by everyday wonders. Scheufele explained, "Miracles are often modest: they are born of a detail, a light, an unexpected emotion. This collection is an invitation to look at them differently."
Highlights include a necklace centred on an 88-carat Royal Blue sapphire, surrounded by cascading sapphires, aquamarines, and diamonds. A phoenix brooch in ethical rose gold and titanium features emeralds, tanzanites, and multicoloured sapphires, while a carp brooch traces water through sapphires and diamonds. One intimate piece is a secret watch shaped like a butterfly on a flower, with a wing that conceals the dial, set in ethical white gold and titanium with diamonds and sapphires.
Each creation emerges from months of work in Chopard's Geneva ateliers, reflecting a dedication to craftsmanship that mirrors the festival's celebration of cinema. This partnership, now spanning nearly three decades, continues to define the intersection of luxury and art on the French Riviera.
