The 34th Cannes Film Festival was held from 13 to 27 May 1981. French filmmaker Jacques Deray served as jury president for the main competition.
Polish filmmaker Andrzej Wajda won the Palme d'Or, the festival's top prize, for the film Man of Iron.
The festival opened with Three Brothers by Francesco Rosi, and closed with Honeysuckle Rose by Jerry Schatzberg.
Juries Jacques Deray, French filmmaker - Jury President Ellen Burstyn, American actress Jean-Claude Carrière, French author Robert Chazal, French film critic Attilio d'Onofrio, Italian Christian Defaye, Swiss journalist Carlos Diegues, Brazilian filmmaker Antonio Gala, Spanish author Andrei Petrov, Soviet composer Douglas Slocombe, British cinematographer
Official selection In Competition The following feature films competed for the Palme d'Or: English titleOriginal titleDirector(s)Production countryAngels of IronEngel aus EisenThomas BraschWest GermanyBeau PereBeau-pèreBertrand BlierFranceChariots of FireHugh HudsonUnited Kingdom, United StatesCserepekIstván GaálHungaryExcaliburJohn BoormanUnited Kingdom, United StatesFaktasФактAlmantas GrikevičiusSoviet UnionFlame TopTulipääPirjo Honkasalo and Pekka LehtoFinlandHeaven's GateMichael CiminoUnited StatesLight Years AwayLes Années lumièreAlain TannerFrance, SwitzerlandLooks and SmilesKen LoachUnited KingdomMan of IronCzłowiek z żelazaAndrzej WajdaPolandMephistoIstván SzabóHungary, Austria, West GermanyMontenegroMontenegro eller Pärlor och svinDušan MakavejevSwedenNational HeritagePatrimonio nacionalLuis García BerlangaSpainNeigeJuliet BertoFranceThe Ones and the OthersLes Uns et les AutresClaude LelouchPassion of Love Passione d'amoreEttore ScolaItalyPossessionAndrzej ŻuławskiFrance, West GermanyQuartetJames IvoryFrance, United KingdomThe SkinLa pelleLiliana CavaniItalyThiefMichael MannUnited StatesTragedy of a Ridiculous ManLa tragedia di un uomo ridicoloBernardo BertolucciItaly
Un Certain Regard The following films were selected for the Un Certain Regard section: English titleOriginal titleDirector(s)Production country...And God Created ThemDíos los Cría...Jacobo MoralesPuerto RicoArising from the Surfaceसतह से उठता आदमीMani KaulIndiaThe Big Night BatheГолямото нощно къпанеBinka ZhelyazkovaBulgariaCerromaiorLuís Filipe RochaPortugalEijanaikaええじゃないかShōhei ImamuraJapanI Love YouEu Te AmoArnaldo JaborBrazilLet There Be LightJohn HustonUnited StatesMemoirs of a SurvivorDavid GladwellUnited KingdomUn moment de bonheurYves LaumetFranceMur MursAgnès VardaFranceA Thousand Little Kissesאלף נשיקות קטנותMira RecanatiIsraelThe WitnessA tanúPéter BacsóHungaryWho's Singin' Over There?Ko to tamo pevaSlobodan ŠijanYugoslaviaYou Love Only OnceSamo jednom se ljubiRajko Grlić
Out of Competition The following films were selected to be screened out of competition: English titleOriginal titleDirector(s)Production countryAnima – Symphonie phantastiqueTitus LeberAustriaBlood WeddingBodas de sangreCarlos SauraSpainFrom Mao to Mozart: Isaac Stern in ChinaMurray LernerUnited States, ChinaHands Up!Ręce do góryJerzy SkolimowskiPolandHavoc in Heaven (1961)大鬧天宮Wan LaimingChinaHoneysuckle Rose (closing film)Jerry SchatzbergUnited StatesThe Fly (short)A légyFerenc RofuszHungaryThe Postman Always Rings TwiceBob RafelsonUnited StatesStreet Angel (1937)馬路天使Yuan MuzhiChinaThis Is ElvisMalcolm Leo and Andrew SoltUnited StatesThree Brothers (opening film)Tre fratelliFrancesco RosiItaly, FranceTroubled Laughter苦惱人的笑Yang Yanjin and Deng YiminChina
Short Films Competition The following short films competed for the Short Film Palme d'Or:
Alephah by Gérald Frydman André Derain, thèmes et variations by François Porcile Dilemma by John Halas Diskzokej by Jiří Barta Král a skritek by Lubomír Beneš Manövergäste by G. Nicolas Hayek Maskirani razbojnik by Petar Lalovic Moto Perpetuo by Béla Vajda Ne me parlez plus jamais d'amour by Sylvain Madigan Le Rat by Elisabeth Huppert Ravnovesie by Boiko Kanev Trcanje by Dusko Sevo Zea by André Leduc
Parallel sections International Critics' Week The following feature films were screened for the 20th International Critics' Week (20e Semaine de la Critique):
She Dances Alone by Robert Dornhelm The Moth by Tomasz Zygadlo Fil, fond, fosfor by Philippe Nahoun Kill Hitler by Villi Hermann, Niklaus Meienberg, Hans Stürm by Jeanine Meerapfel Fertile Memory by Michel Khleifi Le Chapeau malheureux by Maria Sos
Directors' Fortnight The following films were screened for the 1981 Directors' Fortnight (Quinzaine des Réalizateurs):
Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyoon Aata Hai by Saeed Akhtar Mirza Alligator Shoes by Clay Borris Americana by David Carradine Act of Violence by Eduardo Escorel Beddegama by Lester James Peries Bolivar, Sinfonia Tropical by Diego Rísquez Bona by Lino Brocka Chakra, Vicious Circle by Rabindra Dharmaraj Conversa Acabada by João Botelho Desperado City by Vadim Glowna No Mercy, No Future by Helma Sanders-Brahms Francisca by Manoel De Oliveira The Vulture by Yaky Yosha The Mark of the Beast by Pieter Verhoeff In Defense of People by Rafigh Pooya Fruits of Passion by Shuji Terayama The Plouffe Family by Gilles Carle Memorias Do Medo by Alberto Graça Narcissus and Psyche by Gábor Bódy Seuls by Francis Reusser Tell Me A Riddle by Lee Grant Wizja lokalna 1901 by Filip Bajon
Short films
Evolution by Sheila Graber Face To Face by Sheila Graber Le Miroir Vivant by Eunice Hutchins, Norbert Barnich Michelangelo by Sheila Graber Music For Film by Jean-Claude Wouters Pour Trois Minutes De Gloire by Jean-Claude Bronckart T.V.O. by Carlos Castillo The Electric Disco Chicken by Bob Goodness Tous Les Garcons by Yves Laberge Tre Per Eccesso by Giampierro Vinciguerra Uno Para Todos, Todos Para Todos by Carlos Castillo
Official Awards In Competition Palme d'Or: Man of Iron by Andrzej Wajda Grand Prix: Light Years Away by Alain Tanner Best Screenplay: István Szabó for Mephisto Best Actress: Isabelle Adjani for Quartet and Possession Best Actor: Ugo Tognazzi for Tragedy of a Ridiculous Man Best Supporting Actress: Yelena Solovey for Faktas Best Supporting Actor: Ian Holm for Chariots of Fire Best Artistic Contribution: Excalibur by John Boorman
Caméra d'Or Desperado City by Vadim Glowna
Short Film Palme d'Or Moto Perpetuo by Béla Vajda Jury Prize: Le Rat by Elisabeth Huppert Zea by André Leduc
Independent Awards
FIPRESCI Prizes by Jeanine Meerapfel (International Critics' Week) Mephisto by István Szabó (In competition)
Commission Supérieure Technique Technical Grand Prize: Les Uns et les Autres for the sound quality
Prize of the Ecumenical Jury Man of Iron by Andrzej Wajda Special Mention: Chariots of Fire by Hugh Hudson Looks and Smiles by Ken Loach
Young Cinema Award Looks and Smiles by Ken Loach Neige by Juliet Berto and Jean-Henri Roger
References
Media INA: The parallel festival, Cannes 1981 (commentary in French) INA: Threat of suicide Italian-style for Ugo Tognazzi (in French)
External links 1981 Cannes Film Festival (web.archive) Official website Retrospective 1981 Cannes Film Festival:1981 at Internet Movie Database