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.

[4][5] The festival opened with Three Brothers by Francesco Rosi,[6][7] and closed with Honeysuckle Rose by Jerry Schatzberg.

[8] The following feature films competed for the Palme d'Or:[3] The following films were selected for the Un Certain Regard section:[3] The following films were selected to be screened out of competition:[3] The following short films competed for the Short Film Palme d'Or:[3] The following feature films were screened for the 20th International Critics' Week (20e Semaine de la Critique):[10] The following films were screened for the 1981 Directors' Fortnight (Quinzaine des Réalizateurs):[11]