Best Director Award (Cannes Film Festival) for "Barton Fink", and in 2003, when Gus Van Sant won for his film "Elephant". Best Director Award (Cannes Film Festival) The Best Director Award () is an annual award presented at the Cannes Film Festival for best directing achievements in a feature film screened as part of festival's official selection (i.e. films selected for the competition program which compete for the festival's main prize Palme d'Or). Awarded by festival's jury, it was first given in 1946. The prize was not awarded on 12 occasions (1947, 1953–54, 1960, 1962–64, 1971, 1973–74, 1977, 1980). In addition, the festival was not held
1953 Cannes Film Festival 1953 Cannes Film Festival The 6th Cannes Film Festival was held from 15 to 29 April 1953. The Grand Prix of the Festival went to "The Wages of Fear" by Henri-Georges Clouzot. The festival opened with "Horizons sans fin" by Jean Dréville. During the opening ceremony, Walt Disney was awarded the "Legion of Honour" from the hands of Monsieur Hugues, Minister of Information. The following people were appointed as the Jury of the 1953 competition: Feature films Short films The following feature films competed for the Grand Prix: The following short films competed for the Short Film Grand Prix: The