The 38th Cannes Film Festival took place from 8 to 20 May 1985. Czechoslovakian filmmaker Miloš Forman served as jury president for the main competition. Yugoslavian filmmaker Emir Kusturica won the Palme d'Or, the festival's top prize, for the drama film When Father Was Away on Business. The festival paid a tribute to American actor James Stewart and screened a restored version of his 1954 film The Glenn Miller Story, directed by Anthony Mann. The festival opened with Witness by Peter Weir, and closed with The Emerald Forest by John Boorman.

Juries

Main competition

Camera d'Or

Official selection

In Competition

The following feature films competed for the Palme d'Or:

Un Certain Regard

The following films were selected for the Un Certain Regard section:

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 24th International Critics' Week (24e Semaine de la Critique):

Directors' Fortnight

The following films were screened for the 1985 Directors' Fortnight (Quinzaine des Réalizateurs):

Official Awards

In Competition

Caméra d'Or

Short Film Palme d'Or

Independent Awards

FIPRESCI Prizes

Commission Supérieure Technique

Prize of the Ecumenical Jury

Award of the Youth

Media