The selection process for the top award at Cannes was always in the hands of the chairman, who had the authority to decide how the awards would be determined each year.
If the chairman had a strong personality, the jury might become a one-man show, with all awards being handed out according to his wishes.
If the chairman was more easygoing, the process might involve scoring or voting.
This year, George Miller opted for a voting system.
After watching all the films, the nine jury members sat around a long table, waiting for the selection to begin.
"Alright, let's start with the top award." Unlike the awards ceremony, which saved the biggest prize for last, the selection process tended to settle the top award first before moving on to the others.
This was also a way to maintain balance.
Kirsten Dunst and Mads Mikkelsen were naturally among the jury, sitting across from each other as they turned toward Chairman George Miller.
"For the Palme d'Or, I've made a list of films. I believe seven films are in contention for this award. Want to hear them?" George Miller shrugged and, without waiting for a response, read out the seven titles.
"The Unknown Girl," directed by the Dardenne brothers.
"I, Daniel Blake," directed by Ken Loach.
"It's Only the End of the World," directed by Xavier Dolan.
"Graduation," directed by Cristian Mungiu.
"American Honey," directed by Andrea Arnold.
"The Salesman," directed by Asghar Farhadi.
"NightWalker," directed by Ethan.
After listing the films, George Miller paused for a moment. "Now, let's vote for each film."
He glanced around at everyone before calling out the first title. "NightWalker."
Mads Mikkelsen was the first to raise his hand, followed closely by Kirsten Dunst.
They glanced around and found they were not alone—the other six jury members also raised their hands. In the end, only George Miller had yet to vote.
Just as everyone thought NightWaker had settled at eight votes, George Miller suddenly spoke.
"NightWaker, nine votes."
"Hmm?" Some jury members were surprised but soon chuckled.
The voting continued for the remaining films.
"Graduation" received seven votes, while "It's Only the End of the World" received eight.
The other films hovered around five or six votes each.
It seemed NightWalker was about to win this year's Palme d'Or.
However, when the final film was put to a vote, an unexpected situation arose.
"I, Daniel Blake" also received nine votes.
Mads Mikkelsen and Kirsten Dunst exchanged glances before both turned toward George Miller.
George Miller pondered for a moment. "Let's have another round of voting."
"Nightcrawler—1, 2, 3… eight votes." This time, George Miller abstained.
*"I, Daniel Blake"—1, 2, 3… eight votes." This time, Kirsten Dunst abstained.
Two rounds of voting, and both times the results were exactly the same.
The two films were at an impasse.
George Miller thought for a moment before saying, "Technically, a director who has already won the Palme d'Or shouldn't receive it again so soon. But I believe that in the face of a truly outstanding film, exceptions can be made."
"So, I'll cast my deciding vote for NightWalker."
With that, he announced, "This year's Palme d'Or goes to Ethan's NightWalker."
Cannes Awards Ceremony
Under the glare of flashing cameras, Ethan took the trophy from George Miller's hands.
After the ceremony, at the awards gala, Ethan chatted with Lavie Sousa, the French official overseeing the Cannes awards event.
She was a middle-aged woman dressed in an elegant black evening gown, exuding an air of sophistication.
"Ethan, congratulations on another trophy. Honestly, I've never seen someone quite like you before."
"Maybe I'm just favored by fate," Ethan smiled.
Lavie Sousa studied Ethan's face for a moment before making a suggestion. "Would you be interested in serving as the Cannes jury president?"
Ethan looked pleasantly surprised. "Of course! I'd be honored. If there's a chance, please keep me informed."
"Don't worry. While it's not entirely my decision, getting your name on the nomination list shouldn't be a problem."
She believed Ethan's experience and achievements were more than qualified. The only issue was his age—being in his thirties was still quite young.
Even if nominated, there was no guarantee other officials would select such a rising director for the role.
After his conversation with Lavie Sousa, Ethan chatted with George Miller for a while before Mads Mikkelsen and Kirsten Dunst joined them.
"Ethan…" Kirsten Dunst clinked glasses with him. "I really like your work. Do we have a chance to collaborate?"
"Of course," Ethan nodded. "You have an excellent screen presence. I'm sure we'll have opportunities in the future."
At that moment, he noticed Mads Mikkelsen eating beef. He raised his hand and joked, "Mikkelsen, to be honest, seeing you eat beef makes my skin crawl."
Mads Mikkelsen shrugged. "Is the impression really that strong?"
"Absolutely. It's unforgettable," Ethan laughed. "You and Hannibal share the same kind of elegance."
"Maybe I should change some habits," Mads Mikkelsen chewed his beef thoughtfully. "Otherwise, one day a cop might see me and just pull out his gun."
"Don't doubt it. That could actually happen."
Not far away, many celebrities were watching the evening's big winner. But only a few had the opportunity to engage in real conversation with him.
Most people simply "bumped into" Ethan, clinked glasses, exchanged a few words, and considered the night a success.
Meanwhile, at the upper-tier gatherings, Ethan, known for his box office success and seamless blend of commercial appeal and artistry, navigated the scene effortlessly.
In just a few days, he had signed endorsement deals with several luxury brands, expected to bring in over 50 million dollars in revenue.
Cannes – Final Night
Ethan lay in the bathtub of the hotel's top-floor suite, gazing down at the small coastal city.
Scarlett was nestled against him, her cheeks flushed.
She held a glass of red wine, looking out at the moonlit sky. "Ethan, congratulations on winning another Palme d'Or."
"It's alright. I don't care much about these awards anymore."
The moment of receiving a trophy was exciting, but once it sat on a shelf, it became nothing more than a symbol to show off to others.
"You're still chasing the Oscars, though?" Scarlett turned to him.
"The Oscars? How should I put it… It's just a tool. I'm simply using it to achieve my own goals. Just like how the Academy uses awards to signal its stance on social issues every year."
"It's like a magnificent robe—sooner or later, it'll be covered in fleas. So while I can, I might as well grab a few more. Later, they'll make great conversation pieces."
"Conversation pieces?" Scarlett sighed. "I think in the future, just saying your name will be enough to command respect."
"That's hard to achieve. Only Spielberg and Cameron have that kind of status. But I believe I can get there too."
Scarlett rose from the water and straddled Ethan.
"Hmm." Ethan leaned back comfortably, then looked at Scarlett's beautiful figure and smiled. "Don't worry. You'll become Hollywood's queen of acting one day."