The Cannes Film Festival, founded in 1946, stands as the glittering apex of cinema, held annually on the French Riviera. It has consistently provided a vital stage for British filmmaking, with diverse entries often resonating with the international jury and audiences. The psychological horror of The Wicker Man, for instance, won the Grand Prix du Jury in 1973, while the sharp social satire of The Favourite secured two awards in 2018, including Best Actress for Olivia Colman, cementing their place in cinematic history.

​

No British director, however, has a more profound or enduring relationship with Cannes than Ken Loach. A master of social realism, Loach is renowned for his unflinching portraits of working-class life and has competed in the main competition numerous times. His 2016 triumph, I, Daniel Blake, was his second Palme d’Or victory, having first won in 2006 for The Wind That Shakes the Barley. This dual win solidifies his status as a Cannes laureate. The I, Daniel Blake victory, presided over by jury president George Miller, was seen as a powerful political statement, validating its raw, humanistic story of a man crushed by bureaucracy. While deeply rooted in British austerity, its themes of dignity and systemic injustice had a universal, gut-wrenching power that captivated the world.

​

For the international independent film industry, the Palme d’Or is more than a prize; it is a definitive seal of artistic merit that guarantees global distribution and dramatically amplifies a film’s message. For a film like I, Daniel Blake, the award transformed a politically charged national story into a global conversation, driving ticket sales and ensuring its legacy far beyond the Croisette and proving the enduring power of independent cinema.

​

1. According to the text, what is the primary role of the Cannes Film Festival for the film industry?

2. Besides I, Daniel Blake, name one other British film mentioned as having success at Cannes.

3. What style of filmmaking is Ken Loach known for, and what does his 2016 Palme d'Or win suggest about his status at the festival?

4. What are the central themes of I, Daniel Blake that the text highlights?

5. In the context of the independent film industry, what are the two main benefits of winning the Palme d'Or?

6. How did winning the Palme d'Or specifically change the status and reach of I, Daniel Blake?

7. The text states the film's themes had a "universal, gut-wrenching power." Why do you think a story about British austerity could connect with a global audience?

8. Using I, Daniel Blake as an example, explain the link between winning a major award at Cannes, a film's message, and its overall legacy.