Dhont Wins Prix du Cinéma Positif at Cannes for ‘Coward’

Belgian filmmaker Lukas Dhont has won the Prix du Cinéma Positif at the 79th Cannes Film Festival for his third feature film, Coward, the festival’s organizers announced on Friday. The award, presented by Jacques Attali, president of the Semaine du Cinéma Positif, and Estelle Lefébure, godmother of this year’s edition, recognizes cinema that “inspires, awakens consciences, and fosters positive change in the world,” according to RTBF.

A Growing Cannes Legacy

The 34-year-old Ghent-born director is the only Flemish filmmaker to have all three of his feature films selected for the Cannes competition. His debut Girl (2018) won the Caméra d’Or and Queer Palm, while Close (2022) earned the Grand Prix and went on to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best International Feature Film. Coward remains in contention for the Palme d’Or, the festival’s top prize, with the winner set to be announced at the closing ceremony on Saturday.

As VRT NWS reported, Dhont accepted the award from Attali, an economist and founder of the Positive Planet Foundation, which created the Semaine du Cinéma Positif in 2016. The parallel event celebrates “positive cinema” — films that inspire hope, resilience, and human kindness.

A Story of Love and Art in Wartime

Set on the Belgian front during World War I in 1916, Coward follows Pierre, a young Belgian soldier eager to prove himself on the battlefield. Behind the lines, he meets Francis, who is tasked with boosting troop morale through theatrical performances. As the violence of war intensifies, both men seek refuge in art and human connection.

The screenplay, co-written by Dhont and his longtime collaborator Angelo Tijssens, was developed over approximately three years with historical research conducted in archives across London, Belgium, and France. The film stars 20-year-old Belgian actor Emmanuel Macchia in his debut role alongside French actor Valentin Campagne.

According to La Libre, the film is a co-production between Belgium (The Reunion, Versus), France (Lumen), and the Netherlands (Topkapi Films). International sales are handled by The Match Factory, while Diaphana Distribution manages French distribution. MUBI acquired the film for broader distribution following its Cannes premiere.

Standing Ovation and Emotional Tribute

At its premiere screening on Thursday, 21 May, Coward received a nearly 15-minute standing ovation from the audience. An emotional Dhont dedicated the screening to actress Emilie Dequenne, who starred in his previous film Close and passed away from cancer in March 2025.

“Art has always been a way for me to escape and to create a world in which I could live again,” Dhont said in his speech after the screening, as reported by VRT NWS. “The young men who, in a time of destruction, were forced to destroy and kill and who found an escape in art. The film is for me a tribute to all people who in the past were forced to commit acts of violence and who found an escape in music, dance, or love.”

Co-screenwriter Tijssens reflected on the film’s themes in an interview with Radio 1’s ‘De Ochtend,’ noting: “Often we only get films about men who have to destroy another body and rarely about men who have to care for another body. While that should be the most important thing.”

Belgian Cinema Shines on the Croisette

Dhont’s latest success adds to a strong Belgian presence at this year’s festival. The 79th Cannes Film Festival opened with La Vénus électrique, a Belgian co-production directed by Pierre Salvadori, and Belgian animation was also highlighted during the event.

As the festival draws to a close, all eyes remain on whether Coward can secure the Palme d’Or — a feat that would cement Dhont’s status as one of Europe’s most celebrated contemporary filmmakers. The official Festival de Cannes page describes the film as a story of two men who “try to find ways to escape the brutality of war, even if only for a moment.”

What to Watch For

The Palme d’Or winner will be announced at the Cannes closing ceremony on Saturday, 23 May. Regardless of the outcome, the Prix du Cinéma Positif already marks another milestone for Dhont, whose ability to blend intimate human stories with profound thematic depth continues to resonate with audiences and critics alike on the world’s most prestigious film stage.