New Delhi, May 24 -- Cristian Mungiu returned to the top of world cinema on Saturday night as his latest feature Fjord won the Palme d'Or at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, cementing the Romanian director's place among the festival's most acclaimed auteurs nearly two decades after his breakthrough triumph with 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days.

The emotionally charged drama stars Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve as a couple whose lives spiral into crisis after relocating to a remote Norwegian village and becoming entangled with the country's child welfare system. Combining social realism with psychological tension, the film quickly emerged as one of the strongest contenders throughout the Cannes competition.

In addition to securing the festi...