The 24th Cannes Film Festival was held from 12 to 27 May 1971. The Palme d'Or went to The Go-Between by Joseph Losey. The festival opened with Gimme Shelter, a documentary about English rock band the Rolling Stones directed by David Maysles, Albert Maysles and Charlotte Zwerin and closed with Les mariés de l'an II, directed by Jean-Paul Rappeneau. The festival paid tribute to Charlie Chaplin and honored him with the title of Commander of the national order of the Legion of Honor.

Juries

The following people were appointed as the Jury of the 1971 film competition: Feature Films Short Films

Official selection

In Competition – Feature film

The following feature films competed for the Grand Prix International du Festival:

Out of Competition

The following films were selected to be screened out of competition:

Short Films Competition

The following short films competed for the Short Film Palme d'Or:

Parallel Sections

International Critics' Week

The following feature films were screened for the 10th International Critics' Week (10e Semaine de la Critique):

Directors' Fortnight

The following films were screened for the 1971 Directors' Fortnight (Quinzaine des Réalizateurs):

Short films

Official Awards

The following films and people received the 1971 Official selection awards:

Short Films

Independent Awards

FIPRESCI

Commission Supérieure Technique

OCIC Award

Other Awards

Media