Strong critical reception and extended standing ovations at recent premieres have propelled Paweł Pawlikowski’s Fatherland and Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s All of a Sudden into a near-tie for Palme d’Or frontrunner status. Fatherland’s textured black-and-white portrayal of postwar Europe, anchored by Sandra Hüller, earned enthusiastic audience responses and early industry buzz, while Hamaguchi’s French-language debut drew the festival’s longest ovation so far, highlighting its emotional depth and humanist themes. These factors, alongside solid precursor signals from critics’ circles, have shaped trader consensus around their respective auteur pedigrees and narrative resonance. With the jury’s announcement looming at the festival’s close, additional screenings and word-of-mouth shifts could tip the balance in this tightly contested race.