1961 Cannes Film Festival 1961 Cannes Film Festival The 14th Cannes Film Festival was held from 3 to 18 May 1961. The Palme d'Or went to the "Une aussi longue absence", directed by Henri Colpi and "Viridiana", directed by Luis Buñuel. The festival opened with "Che gioia vivere", directed by René Clément. The festival also screened Shirley Clarke's debut film "The Connection" due to the efforts of the French Syndicate of Cinema Critics. The success of the film caused the festival to create International Critics' Week the following year. The following people were appointed as the Jury of the 1961 competition: Feature films Short
Prize of the Ecumenical Jury SIGNIS for the Catholics and Interfilm for the Protestants. SIGNIS and Interfilm appoint ecumenical juries at various international film festivals, including Cannes Film Festival (where The Ecumenical Jury () is one of three juries at the film festival, along with the official jury and the FIPRESCI jury), Berlin International Film Festival, Locarno International Film Festival, Montreal World Film Festival and the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. Films from diverse countries have won the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury at the Cannes Film Festival. Most films having won the award are from European countries, with Italy, Germany and Poland dominating. Andrei