The 51st Cannes Film Festival took place from 13 to 24 May 1998. American filmmaker Martin Scorsese served as jury president for the main competition. Isabelle Huppert was the host for the opening and closing ceremonies. Greek filmmaker Theo Angelopoulos won the Palme d'Or, the festival's top prize, for the drama film Eternity and a Day. The festival opened with Primary Colors by Mike Nichols, and closed with Godzilla by Roland Emmerich. Two new sections were added to the Official Selection: the Un Certain Regard and the Cinéfondation.

Juries

Main competition

Un Certain Regard

Cinéfondation and Short Films 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 competition of Un Certain Regard:

Out of Competition

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

Special Screenings

The following films were selected to receive a Special Screening:

Cinéfondation

The following films were selected for the competition of Cinéfondation:

Short Films Competition

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

Parallel sections

International Critics' Week

The following films were screened for the 37th International Critics' Week (37e Semaine de la Critique): Feature film competition Short film competition

Directors' Fortnight

The following films were screened for the 1998 Directors' Fortnight (Quinzaine des Réalizateurs):

Official Awards

The following films and people received the 1998 Official selection awards:

In Competition

Un Certain Regard

Cinéfondation

Caméra d'Or

Short Film Palme d'Or

Independent awards

FIPRESCI Prizes

Commission Supérieure Technique

Prize of the Ecumenical Jury

Award of the Youth

International Critics' Week

Directors' Fortnight

François Chalais Award

Media