The Cannes Film Festival jury participated in a traditional handprint and signing ceremony on Wednesday, May 20, 2026 [1].
The event serves as a symbolic gesture to immortalize the jury's contributions to the festival. By leaving permanent marks in Cannes, the selected filmmakers and actors are woven into the historical record of the French Riviera's most prestigious cinematic event.
Among the participants were actress Demi Moore, actress Ruth Negga, and actor Stellan Skarsgård [2]. The group also included directors Chloé Zhao and Park Chan-wook, along with other members of the festival jury [2]. Each member pressed their hands into the material to create a lasting physical record of their presence during the 2026 edition of the festival.
This ceremony is a long-standing tradition used to celebrate the specific roles these individuals play in determining the festival's top honors. The process involves both the physical handprints and the signing of the installation, ensuring that the jury's identity is preserved for future visitors and cinema historians [2].
The ceremony took place in Cannes, France, where the festival continues its annual schedule of screenings and awards. The act of leaving a handprint is designed to commemorate the service of the jury members as they evaluate the year's most significant international films [2].
“The ceremony is a traditional way to immortalize the jury’s contribution.”
The handprint ceremony reinforces the prestige of the Cannes Film Festival by treating its jury not just as temporary judges, but as permanent fixtures of the event's legacy. By physicalizing the presence of global figures like Chloé Zhao and Park Chan-wook, the festival strengthens its brand as a crossroads of international cinematic influence.
