The recently concluded 2024 Cannes Film Festival may not have had the strongest lineup in recent memory, but it certainly didn't lack in big stories and potential award winners. The festival brought together renowned filmmakers, captivating premieres, and notable events that kept audiences talking.

One of the major highlights was Francis Ford Coppola's distribution push for his long-awaited passion project, "Megalopolis," a film he self-funded over the course of several decades. Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof also made headlines by fleeing his home country and arriving at Cannes with his new film, "The Seed of the Sacred Fig," after being sentenced to eight years in prison. The return of fest favorite Andrea Arnold, with her competition entry, "Bird," also generated excitement as she aimed for her first Palme d'Or win.

Another notable event was Un Certain Regard, which announced its prizes on Friday. Among the winners were Roberto Minervini and Rungano Nyoni, who tied for Best Director with their films "The Damned" and "On Becoming a Guinea Fowl," respectively. Other winners included "L'Histoire De Souleymane" for the Jury Prize and "Black Dog" for the Un Certain Regard Prize.

Despite rumors of a potential French #MeToo scandal and a labor action by Cannes employees, the festival went on uninterrupted. However, the impact of strikes from the previous year on production and release schedules resulted in a lack of breakout hits compared to previous editions. One surprise hit was Coralie Forgeat's "The Substance," a body horror satire that garnered attention and is expected to gain popularity upon its theatrical release by MUBI.

Another film that generated significant buzz was Sean Baker's "Anora," which received a standing ovation at the Palais and garnered high praise from critics, positioning it as a top contender for Cannes awards. Payal Kapadia, winner of Cannes' Golden Eye Award in 2021 for "A Night of Knowing Nothing," astounded audiences again with her film "All We Imagine as Light," marking the first Indian film in 30 years to compete for the Palme d'Or. A win would also make Kapadia the fourth woman ever to receive the festival's top prize, following last year's winner, Justine Triet, who directed "Anatomy of a Fall."

The highly anticipated awards presentation, to be streamed on Brut and the festival's website, will feature a jury led by Greta Gerwig, accompanied by esteemed members such as Lily Gladstone, Ebru Ceylan, Eva Green, Nadine Labaki, J.A. Bayona, Pierfrancesco Favino, Hirokazu Kore-eda, and Omar Sy. The ceremony is set to take place at 6:45 p.m. local time and 12:45 p.m. EST.

As the 2024 Cannes Film Festival wrapped up, it left an indelible mark with its unique lineup, compelling stories, and the anticipation of winners poised to make their mark in the realm of international cinema.