The 40th Cannes Film Festival took place from 7 to 19 May 1987.

[4] French-Italian actor Yves Montand served as jury president for the main competition.

[5] French filmmaker Maurice Pialat won the Palme d'Or, the festival's top prize, for the drama film Under the Sun of Satan,[6] a choice which critics considered "highly controversial" and the prize was given under the jeers of the public.

Pialat is quoted to have retorted "You don't like me?

"[7][8] The festival opened with A Man in Love by Diane Kurys, and closed with Aria by Robert Altman, Bruce Beresford, Bill Bryden, Jean-Luc Godard, Derek Jarman, Franc Roddam, Nicolas Roeg, Ken Russell, Charles Sturridge and Julien Temple.