ARRI remains the leading camera choice among Cannes 2025 winners

ARRI remains the leading camera choice among Cannes 2025 winners

At the 78th Festival de Cannes, ARRI’s camera and lighting technology played a pivotal role behind the scenes in the production of most featured films.

May 26, 2025

From May 13 to 24, 2025, the crème de la crème of the film industry gathered at the 78th Cannes Film Festival. As a global leader in motion picture and live entertainment technology, ARRI equipment and services played a crucial behind-the-scenes role in many of the featured films. From the ALEXA 35, the camera system of choice for industry professionals, to the versatile and powerful SkyPanel X luminary, and the timeless yet contemporary look delivered by ARRI’s Ensō lenses, the Cannes lineup could trust ARRI’s unrivalled quality to bring their vision to life.

In 2025, the majority of all feature films shown in Cannes were captured or illuminated with ARRI cameras, lenses, or lights—not only the In Competition films, but also the entries in Un Certain Regard, Directors’ Fortnight, Critics’ Week, Out of Competition, and Midnight Screening. Many of the participating productions were also serviced and equipped by ARRI Rental.

ARRI tools made a deep impact behind the scenes; a stunning 20 out of 22 films in the main competition and 17 out of 20 films in the Un Certain Regard section were captured with the help of ARRI cameras—including the winners of both categories. The 2025 Palme d’Or went to “Un simple accident” (“It Was Just an Accident”), directed by Jafar Panahi, and captured by cinematographer Armin Jafari with ALEXA Mini. The Prix Un Certain Regard was awarded to “La misteriosa mirada del flamenco” (“The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo”), directed by Diego Céspedes, and captured by cinematographer Angello Faccini with ALEXA 35. In total, 88 percent of feature films in these two leading categories relied on ARRI camera systems, a new record number even compared to the very strong showing last year.

The Camera d’Or for the best first feature film in Cannes went to “The President’s Cake,” captured by DP Tudor Panduru with ALEXA 35 and Master Anamorphic lenses. The film also won the People’s Choice Award in the independent Directors’ Fortnight competition. The Grand Prix, or second prize of the festival, was Joachim Trier’s family drama “Sentimental Value,” which was captured by DP Kasper Tuxen DFF and garnered a record-breaking 15-minute standing ovation after its premiere in Cannes. Another notable award in the main competition, the Jury Prize, was split this year and went to “Sirat” (DP: Mauro Herce AEC, ARRIFLEX 416 and 16SR3) and “Sound of Falling” (DP: Fabian Gamper, ALEXA Mini).

The share of Cannes films with ARRI shows a record number compared to previous years

The share of Cannes films with ARRI shows a record number compared to previous years

ALEXA 35 was the most trusted camera in the festival’s main competition, known as In Competition. Nine films contesting for the Palme d’Or used this camera, including festival highlights such as Ari Aster’s “Eddington” (DP: Darius Khondji AFC, ASC) and Kleber Mendonça Filho’s “The Secret Agent” (DP: Evgenia Alexandrova AFC). Second place for most popular camera in the category was a tie between the ALEXA Mini LF and the ALEXA Mini; both models helped to capture four films in the main section. Director Tarik Saleh and cinematographer Pierre Aïm AFC worked with ARRI Rental’s exclusive ALEXA 65 for “Eagles of the Republic.” Analog cameras were not chosen as often as in previous years; only three out of the 22 main competition films were captured with analog film cameras from ARRI. Cinematographer Mauro Herce AEC joined the Palme d’Or race, and ended up co-winning the Jury Prize, with Oliver Laxe’s “Sirat,” a project shot on film with ARRIFLEX 416 and 16SR 3; DP Kasper Tuxen DFF shot Joachim Trier’s award-winning “Sentimental Value” on ARRICAM LT; Bruno Delbonnel ASC, AFC captured Wes Anderson’s “The Phoenician Scheme” with ARRICAM LT, ARRICAM ST. This last picture was serviced by ARRI Rental in Berlin.

Again in 2025, ALEXA 35 was the most-used camera in Cannes’ main competition

Again in 2025, ALEXA 35 was the most-used camera in Cannes’ main competition

In the Cannes Official Selection, which includes In Competition, Un Certain Regard, Out of Competition, Midnight Screenings, Cannes Première, and Special Screenings, ARRI cameras were chosen to capture 61 of the 73 selected projects as the main camera and eight of the selected projects as an additional camera. ALEXA 35 was the camera most often used in these categories in a total of 25 films. Also topping the charts: ALEXA Mini LF, which was used in twelve films, and the ALEXA Mini used in nine out of the 73 total films in the Official Selections mentioned above.

In the Cannes Official Selection, ALEXA 35 rose from second to first place this year as the most popular camera choice

In the Cannes Official Selection, ALEXA 35 rose from second to first place this year as the most popular camera choice

ARRI also came out on top of Out of Competition films in Cannes. In total, six out of seven films in this section were filmed with ARRI equipment. Flagship project “Highest 2 Lowest” (Director: Spike Lee, DP: Matthew Libatique ASC) was shot with ALEXA Mini LF and illuminated with SkyPanel S360, SkyPanel S60, and Orbiter lights. Six pictures competing in the Cannes Première section were shot with ARRI cameras; four digital and two analog. One of the many highlights, DP Karl Walter Lindenlaub ASC, BVK chose to combine ALEXA 35 with ARRI’s new Enzō lenses for Fatih Akin’s “Amrum.” In the Midnight Screening section, ARRI cameras shot five out of five feature films, including “Honey Don’t!” Cinematographer Ari Wegner ACS, ASC relied on ALEXA 35 to bring director Ethan Coen dark comedy noir film to life.

Six out of seven Out of Competition films in Cannes were captured with ARRI

Six out of seven Out of Competition films in Cannes were captured with ARRI

Working directly with industry professionals on a daily basis, ARRI’s focus in Cannes lies also on building and maintaining close relationships with the filmmakers attending this prestigious event. ARRI hosted several gatherings with DPs and producers during the festival and took the opportunity to talk to cinematographers of featured films about their projects, including choices of cameras, lenses, and lighting equipment. Stay tuned for interviews with DPs dropping in the coming weeks and months.

For all winners at a glance, please visit the official festival website www.festival-cannes.com. ARRI congratulates all participants and well-deserved prize recipients of Cannes 2025.

Learn about the ARRI gear behind the scenes of Cannes 2025 films

FeatureDirectorDPARRI gear
MAIN COMPETITION   
The Phoenician SchemeWes Anderson Bruno DelbonnelARRICAM LT, ARRICAM ST, ARRIFLEX 235
EddingtonAri AsterDarius KhondjiALEXA 35
AlphaJulia DucournauRuben ImpensALEXA Mini LF
RenoirChie HayakawaHideho UrataALEXA 35, 18kW ARRI, 6kW ARRI Compact, 4kW ARRI Compact, ARRI M1.8kW, SkyPanel S60C, S30C
The History of SoundOliver HermanusAlexander DynanALEXA 35
La Petite DernièreHafsia HerziJérémie AttardALEXA Mini
SiratOliver LaxeMauro HerceARRICAM 416, SR3, ALEXA 35, Ultra Prime 
Two Prosecutors (Deux Procureurs)Sergei LoznitsaOleg MutuALEXA Mini, Ultra Prime 
FuoriMario MartonePaolo CarneraALEXA Mini LF, SkyPanel X
The Secret Agent (O Secreto Agente)Kleber Mendonça FilhoEvgenia AlexandrovaALEXA 35, ALEXA Mini
Dossier 137Dominik MollPatrick GhiringhelliALEXA Mini LF, Master Anamorphic
Un simple accidentJafar PanahiAmin JafariALEXA Mini, Ultra Prime
The MastermindKelly ReichardtChristopher BlauveltALEXA 35
Eagles of the RepublicTarik SalehPierre AïmALEXA 65
Sound of FallingMascha SchilinskiFabian GamperALEXA Mini
RomeríaCarla SimonHélène LouvartALEXA 35
Sentimental ValueJoachim TrierKasper TuxenARRICAM LT, ARRI 416
Woman and ChildSaeed RoustaeeAdib SobhaniALEXA 35, ARRISUN 4000W, SkyPanel X, Orbiter
Résurrection BI GanJingsong DongALEXA 35, ALEXA LF, Mini LF
    
UN CERTAIN REGARD   
The Mysterious Gaze of the FlamingoDiego CéspedesAngello FacciniALEXA 35
My Father's Shadow (L'ombre de mon père)Akinola Davies Jr.Jermaine Canute Edwards ARR416 & SR3
UrchinHarris DickinsonJosée DeshaiesALEXA 35, Master Prime T1.3
HomeboundNeeraj GhaywanPratik ShahALEXA Mini LF
A Pale View of the HillsKei IshikawaPiotr NiemyjskiALEXA Mini LF, SkyPanel X, SkyPanel 360, 120c, 60, Orbiter, ARRI 18 KW, ARRI Compact 1200w HMI, ARRI Compact 6000w HMI
Eleanor the GreatScarlett JohanssonHélène LouvartALEXA 35, ARRI M-Series
KaravanZuzana KirchnerovaSimona WeisslechnerALEXA Mini
PillionHarry LightonNick MorrisALEXA 35
Aicha Can’t Fly AwayMorad MostafaMostafa El KashefALEXA Mini LF
Once Upon a Time in GazaTarzan & Arab NasserChristophe GraillotALEXA 35
The Plague Charlie PolingerSteven BreckonARRICAM LT, ALEXA 35
Promis le cielErige SehiriFrida MarzoukALEXA Mini LF
The Last One for the Road (Le Città Di Pianura)Francesco Sossai Massimiliano Kuvellier ARRI 416 Plus, Ultra Prime
Heads or Tails ? (Testa o Croce?)Alessio Rigo de Righi, Matteo Zoppis Simone D'ArcangeloARRICAM LT, SR3 
Love me tenderAnna Cazenave CambetKristy BaboulALEXA 35, M-Series, SkyPanel S60
Un PoetaSimón Mesa SotoJuan Sarmiento G.ARRI 416, Ultra 16, SkyPanel
The Chronology of WaterKristen StewartCorey C. WatersARRI 416, Ultra 16 Prime
    
QUINZAINE DES CINEASTES (DIRECTOR'S FORTNIGHT)   
Enzo  Robin CampilloJeanne LapoirieALEXA Mini
Amour ApocalypseAnne ÉmondOlivier GossotARRICAM LT
Classe Moyenne Antony CordierNicolas GaurinALEXA 35
Dangerous AnimalSean ByrneShelley Farthing-DaweALEXA Mini LF, Signature Primes, Impression filters, ARRI Fresnel
Le danse des renards Valery CarnoyArnaud GuezALEXA Mini
KokuhoLee Sang-ilSofian El FaniALEXA 35, Signature Prime, Master Prime
Lucky LuLloyd Lee ChoiNorm LiARRI416 Plus
Miroirs No.3Christian PetzoldHans FrommALEXA 35, ARRI M18
The President's Cake Hasan HadiTudor PanduruALEXA 35, Master Anamorphic
Que ma volonté soit faiteJulia KowalskiSimon BeaufilsARRI 416
Sorry, BabyEva VictorMia Cioffi HenryALEXA Mini LF, DNA Lenses
    
SEMAINE DE LA CRITIQUE (CRITIC'S WEEK)   
Ciudad Sin Sueño (Sleepless City)Guillermo GaloeRui PoçasALEXA 35
ImagoDéni Oumar PitsaevSylvain Verdet, Joachim PhilippeALEXA Mini
KikaAlexe PoukineColin LevequeALEXA Mini LF
Rietland (Reedland)Sven BresserSam Du Pon NSCARRIFLEX 416, Ultra Prime S16
L'intérêt d'Adam (Adam's sake)Laura WandelFrédéric NoirhommeALEXA 35
Baise-en-villeMartin JauvatVincent PeugnetALEXA Mini LF
    
OUT OF COMPETITION   
Partir un jourAmélie BonninDavid CailleyALEXA 35, ARRI M-Series, ARRI Fresnel
La Femme la plus riche du mondeThierry KlifaHichame AlaouieALEXA 35, ARRI 24Kw Fresnel, 18Kw Fresnel, 12Kw Fresnel, 5Kw Fresnel, M40 with chimera, M18, M8, SkyPanel 60, SkyPanel 360, SkyPanel Pro
Highest 2 LowestSpike LeeMatthew LibatiqueALEXA Mini LF, SkyPanel S360, SkyPanel S60, Orbiter
Vie PrivéeRebecca ZlotowskiGeorge LechaptoisALEXA 35
13 Days, 13 NightsMartin BourboulonNicolas BolducALEXA 35
    
MIDNIGHT SCREENING   
DallowayYann GozlanManuel DacosseALEXA Mini LF, Signature Primes, SkyPanel, ARRI Fresnel
Exit 8Kawamura GenkiKeisuke ImamuraALEXA 35
Feng Lin Huo Shan (Sons of the Neon Night)Mak JunoSion MichelALEXA XT Plus
Le Roi Soleil (No One Will Know)Vincent Maël CardonaBrice PancotALEXA Mini
Honey Don't!Ethan CoenAri WegnerALEXA 35
    
CANNES PREMIERE   
AmrumFatih AkinKarl Walter LindenlaubALEXA 35, Ensō
SplitsvilleMike CorvinoAdam Newport-BerraARRICAM LT
La Ola (The Wave / La Vague)Sebestian LelioBenjamín EchazarretaALEXA Mini LF
ConnemaraAlex LutzEponine MomenceauALEXA Mini
Das Verschwinden des Josef Mengele (The Disappearance of Josef Mengele)Kirill SerebrennikovVladislav OpelyantsALEXA 35, SkyPanel
Ástin Sem Eftir Er (The Love That Remains)Hlynur PálmasonHlynur PálmasonARRICAM ST, Ultra Prime
    
SPECIAL SCREENING   
Stories of SurrenderBonoErik MesserschmidtALEXA 65 Monochrome, ALEXA Mini LF Monochrome, DNA
MamaOr SinaiMatan RadinALEXA Mini
Qui brille au combat (The Wonderers)Joséphine JapyRomain CarcanadeALEXA 35