Scarlett Johansson and Kristen Stewart Win Big at Deauville 2025; ‘The Plague’ Takes Top Prize!

The 51st edition of the Deauville American Film Festival has concluded. Led by chair Golshifteh Farahani, the jury awarded top honors to Charlie Polinger’s debut film, “The Plague.” This horror drama, which scrutinizes power dynamics among teens at a water polo summer camp, also garnered the Critics’ Award after its presentation in the “Un Certain Regard” section at the Cannes Film Festival.

Discussing “The Plague,” AlloCiné noted: “‘The Plague’ carries echoes of ‘Full Metal Jacket’ (how can one not see Eli as a young ‘Gomer Pyle’) in its DNA. There are shades of ‘It Follows’ too, as the line between ‘game’ and reality blurs, and the plague, depicted on screen with skin eruptions resembling dermatitis, may just be a metaphor for the toxicity within the group.“

The awards also highlighted two actresses who have turned to directing. Scarlett Johansson, whose upcoming film “Eleanor The Great” is set to release on November 19, won the Audience Award. Meanwhile, Kristen Stewart was honored with the Newcomer Award—presided over by Jean-Pascal Zadi—for her directorial debut “The Chronology of Water,” hitting theaters on October 15.

Award Winners

Grand Prize: “The Plague” by Charlie Polinger

Jury Prize: “Olmo” by Fernando Eimbcke and “Omaha” by Cole Webley

Newcomer Award 2025: “The Chronology of Water” by Kristen Stewart

Audience Award of the City of Deauville: “Eleanor The Great” by Scarlett Johansson

Critics’ Award: “The Plague” by Charlie Polinger

Canal+ Award: “Sovereign” by Christian Swegal

Ornano-Valenti Award 2025: “Nino” by Pauline Loquès

To recap, the jury led by Golshifteh Farahani included Thomas Cailley, Eye Haïdara, Katell Quillévéré, Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu, Vincent Macaigne, Benjamin Millepied, and Emilie Tronche.