Whimsical film ‘Bird‘ by Andrea Arnold today won the Citizenship Award 2024 in Cannes. It was a unanimous decision. The annual award – in its sixth year – is given to a film, in the official Cannes Film Festival selection, that displays artistic qualities and values of “humanism, secularism and universalism”, according to Clap Citizen Cannes which presents the award.
‘Bird’ which stars Barry Keoghan (of ‘Saltburn’ fame), Franz Rogowski, Nykiya Adams and Jason Buda, is about a 12-year-old girl who seeks attention elsewhere when her single dad (Keoghan) is distracted by his upcoming wedding. One day, in nature, she meets Bird. At first she mocks him, but then becomes curious and ultimately admires him, someone who she aspires to be like.
The story is told on screen exquisitely and sensitively by writer and director Arnold. In a message today, she said:
“I was very happy this morning to learn BIRD had been awarded the Citizenship award at Cannes and very sorry I am not there to receive the award. It is always my mission is to get my characters seen so this award feels very special to me.On behalf of all the humans and beings in BIRD and all the humans and beings that contributed and worked so hard to make BIRD i would like to massively thank the Citizenship jury for this very important and beautiful prize! Have a good day friends.”
The multi-national Jury said the film was “a cinematographic gesture sustained by poetry and humanism, with a punk energy that elevates human beings to the beauty and love of each other. Bird is a film carried by the grace of its director and actors.”
The prize was awarded today (Saturday, May 25) in Salon des Ambassadeurs in Cannes’ Festival de Palais.
