Odessa A’Zion and Connor Swindells Honored by Chopard in Cannes
Connor Swindells, Isabelle Huppert and Odessa A'zion attend the Chopard Trophy photocall at the 79th Cannes Film Festival at Carlton Beach on May 15, 2026.
(Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)
-
Share on Facebook
-
Share on X
-
Google Preferred
-
Share to Flipboard
-
Show additional share options
-
Share on LinkedIn
-
Share on Pinterest
-
Share on Reddit
-
Share on Tumblr
-
Share on Whats App
-
Send an Email
-
Print the Article
-
Post a Comment
The Cannes Film Festival itineraries of leaders Thierry Fremaux and Iris Knobloch are understandably jam-packed with events, so when they stand in the spotlight together, and the former says “this is one of the best evenings of the festival,” chances are it’s going to be a good night.
The two joined Chopard’s Caroline Scheufele at Carlton Beach Friday night for the luxury jeweler’s Chopard Trophy gala to fete two actors hand-picked as “next generation” talents in the presence of a godmother tasked with presenting the trophies. This year, that honor went to French film icon Isabelle Huppert, who took her time in handing over the awards to Odessa A’zion and Connor Swindells.
Related Stories
Movies
'Minotaur,' Andrey Zvyagintsev's Cannes Return, Is Shrouded in Mystery, But Here Is an Exclusive Clip
Cannes Rising Star
Félix Lefebvre Goes Method for 'Moulin'
Prior to reading her speech, the actress, in Cannes for the world premiere of Asghar Farhadi’s Parallel Tales, said she took the gig “very seriously,” and it showed. “The Chopard Trophy does not simply reward talent. It recognizes a movement, a promise, something that is already there yet still in the process of becoming,” she said. “Perhaps that is what it means to be an actor, to always be becoming. There are many actors in this room, and I’m sure they agree with this.”
There were many actors and industry insiders in the room, including jury members Chloe Zhao, Demi Moore, Stellan Skarsgard and Ruth Negga as well as guests like James Franco, Andie MacDowell, Dylan Sprouse (with pregnant wife Barbara Palvin), Riley Keough, Nicky Hilton, Xavier Dolan and others.
“Cannes is a place of memory, but it’s also a place of birth,” Huppert continued in presenting the awards, an honor created by Scheufele in 2001, and previously bestowed upon Marion Cotillard, Léa Seydoux, Diane Kruger, Florence Pugh, Jessie Buckley, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Mike Faist, Joe Alwyn, Gael García Bernal and others. “Every year, new faces appear. They come to enrich a story that constantly reveals itself and perhaps in the end, that is the true beauty of cinema. It never truly ends. It passes from one generation to another without even ever repeating itself. Tonight, we celebrate that continuity and we celebrate two singular presences, two sensibilities, two paths that are only beginning to be written and that we already want to follow.”
Huppert then said she does not wish A’zion or Swindells success as they move forward in their careers. “Success is uncertain, capricious, and sometimes deceptive. I wish you something else — I wish you freedom. The freedom to choose. The freedom to refuse. The freedom to explore unexpected territories. The freedom to be yourselves. The freedom to dream. And above all, the freedom to remain faithful to that mystery that brought you here, because that mystery is what make great actors.”
> At Trophee Chopard tonight at Carlton Beach as godmother Isabelle Huppert honors rising stars Odessa A’zion + Connor Swindells in presence of #Cannes jury + Thierry Fremaux, Iris Knobloch, Caroline Scheufele. pic.twitter.com/tHQWviHHJv
— Chris Gardner (@chrissgardner) May 15, 2026
In accepting, A’zion called it “really weird, crazy and surreal” to be in Cannes. “I’ve never been here before and never thought in a million years that this would be happening the first time that I came here. I don’t know why you guys chose me, but I’m so grateful that this is so cool,” she said, joking that watching her highlight reel was a “horrifying” experience. “There are so many actors that I admire who are part of this lineage of this award and this is so crazy. This is really cool. Yeah, thank you, guys.”
A’zion landed in Cannes after a breakout year thanks to her work in Josh Safdie’s Marty Supreme opposite Timothée Chalamet, Gwyneth Paltrow and Tyler, the Creator. She’s also a series regular in Rachel Sennott’s I Love LA. Upcoming projects include Cody Fern’s Mother Courage, opposite Naomi Watts and Sarah Paulson, and Justine Triet’s Fonda. Previous credits include Sitting in Bars with Cake, Fresh Kills, Pools, Grand Army, Hellraiser and She Rides Shotgun.
Meanwhile, British a