Notwithstanding the lack of one film trailblazing the others as was the case in previous years (MOMMY or LA VIE D’ADELE, as recent examples, HOLY MOTORS a little bit earlier), 2015 has borne a tremendously-strong Cannes vintage. So yes, credit–much of it–goes to Thierry Frémaux and his team for having bravely assembled such an inventive slate of films by filmmakers who express themselves genuinely on the larger issues that preoccupy them, and sometimes through shared experience, us. Things like mourning the passing of another person, the loss of work, aging, sex, infidelity, moving to a new country and starting a new life. Cinema is the mirror we hold to contemplate our own humanity and enable new, better, perspectives or simply explore our self-generating potential for vivid emotion.

Here’s my forecast of this year’s winners:

Palme D’Or:
CAROL

Grand Prix
MON ROI ex-aequo with YOUTH (Paolo Sorrentino)

Best Director
DEEPHAN (Jacques Audiard)

Jury Prize
CAROL (Todd Haynes)

Best Screenplay
MIA MADRE

Best Actress
Marguerita Buy (MIA MADRE)

Best Actor
Vincent Lindon (LA LOI DU MARCHE)

Camera D’Or
LAMB, Yared Zeleke