[4] British actor Dirk Bogarde served as jury president for the main competition.

German filmmaker Wim Wenders won the Palme d'Or, the festival's top prize, for the drama film Paris, Texas.

[5][6] During this festival, a private group, under the patronage of the festival's authorities held a side event presenting film trailers.

A French jury, presided by Saul Bass, awarded its Grand Prize to the trailer for Flashdance.

[7] The festival opened with Fort Saganne by Alain Corneau,[8][9] and closed with The Bounty by Roger Donaldson.