Cannes to present Palme d'Or, with history on the line

History could be made when the top award of the Cannes Film Festival, the Palme d'Or, is handed out Saturday.

The Palme d'Or is decided by a nine-person jury, headed this year by the filmmaker Alejandro Inarritu. Their deliberations are done in secret, so what will win is always a guessing game.

But milestone victories could occur if some of the festival's most acclaimed films were to win. If French director Celine Sciamma's period love story "Portrait of a Lady on Fire" won, it would be the first time a female filmmaker has won the Palme d'Or outright. Sciamma's movie, about two women in 18th century France, has been hailed as feminist masterpiece.

Director Celine Sciamma poses for portraits for the film 'Portrait of a Lady on Fire' at the 72nd international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Wednesday, May 22, 2019. (Photo by Joel C RyanInvisionAP)

The only previous female director to win the prestigious Palme d'Or in the festival's 72-year history was Jane Campion in 1993 for "The Piano." She tied with Chen Kaige's "Farewell My Concubine." The only other time a woman has won the Palme d'Or was in 2013 when the award for "Blue Is the Warmest Color" was shared between director Abdellatif Kechiche and actresses Leya Seydoux and Adèle Exarchopoulos.

Sciamma is a 40-year-old writer-director who helped found 50/50X2020, France's version of Time's Up. She said in an interview that a Palme win for "Portrait of a Lady on Fire" would be a larger victory for women.

"It would mean a lot for a lot of people," she said. "That would be the most important."

Director Pedro Almodovar, from left, actors Penelope Cruz and Antonio Banderas pose for photographers at the photo call for the film 'Pain and Glory' at the 72nd international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Saturday, May 18, 2019. (Photo by Joel C RyanInvisionAP)

Pedro Almodovar could make personal history by winning the Palme for "Pain and Glory." Though he's been one of Europe's pre-eminent filmmakers for decades, the 69-year-old Spanish director has never won Cannes' top award despite being in the running five times before. "Pain and Glory," a self-reflective drama starring Antonio Banderas as a fictionalized version of Almodovar, was received as the filmmaker's best work in years.

Also in the mix is Bong Joon-ho's class satire "Parasite," about a poor family of hustlers who find jobs with a wealthy family. Two years ago, Bong was in Cannes' competition with "Okja," a movie distributed in North America by Netflix. After it and Noah Baumbach's "The Meyerowitz Stories" (also a Netflix release) premiered in Cannes, the festival ruled that all films in competition needed French theatrical distribution. Netflix has since withdrawn from the festival.

A win for "Parasite" would mark the first Korean film to ever win the Palme d'Or.

Actress Penelope Cruz poses for photographers at the photo call for the film 'Pain and Glory' at the 72nd international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Saturday, May 18, 2019. (Photo by Arthur MolaInvisionAP)

Last year's awards in Cannes saw Hirokazu Kore-eda's "Shoplifters" triumph and Italian director Asia Argento declare from the stage: "I was raped by Harvey Weinstein. The festival was his hunting ground." Weinstein, who has denied sexually assaulting Argento, was for decades a prominent presence in Cannes, which has had its struggles in adapting to the post-MeToo era.

This year, bowing to pressure from 5050x2020, the festival released gender breakdowns of its submissions and selections. Cannes said about 27 percent of its official selections were directed by women. The 21-film main slate included four films directed by women, which ties the festival's previous high. Mati Diop, the French-Senegalese director, became the first black woman in competition in Cannes with her feature debut "Atlantics."

The 72nd Cannes has had its share of red-carpet dazzle, too. Elton John brought his biopic "Rocketman" to the festival, joining star Taron Egerton for a beachside duet after the premiere. And Quentin Tarantino unveiled his 1960s Los Angeles tale "Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood," with Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio, 25 years after the director's "Pulp Fiction" won the Palme d'Or.

Actors Nora Navas, from left, Antonio Banderas, directors Pedro Almodovar, actors Penelope Cruz, Asier Etxeandia and Leonardo Sbaraglia poses for photographers at the photo call for the film 'Pain and Glory' at the 72nd international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Saturday, May 18, 2019. (Photo by Arthur MolaInvisionAP)

Tarantino is holding out hope that he might win again. His movie did on Friday win the annual Palme Dog, an award given by critics to the festival's most memorable canine. Pitt's character has a loyal pit bull in the film.

"We will see what we will see," said Tarantino, accepting the award Friday. "But at least I won't go home empty handed."

Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP

Actresses Luana Bajrami, from left, Noemie Merlant, director Celine Sciamma, actresses Adele Haenel and Valeria Golino pose for photographers at the photo call for the film 'Portrait of a Lady on Fire' at the 72nd international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Monday, May 20, 2019. (Photo by Joel C RyanInvisionAP)

Actresses Benedicte Couvreur, from left, Valeria Golino, Noemie Merlant, director Celine Sciamma, actresses Adele Haenel, and Luana Bajrami pose for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'Portrait of a Lady on Fire' at the 72nd international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Sunday, May 19, 2019. (Photo by Vianney Le CaerInvisionAP)

PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron warned Thursday that Europe could die if it fails to build its own robust defense as Russia’s war in Ukraine rages on, or if it fails to undertake massive trade and economic reforms to compete with China and the U.S.

Macron urged Europeans to become more ambitious in a fast-changing world to face the challenges of war, fierce trade competition, energy scarcity, climate change and increasing authoritarianism.

In a nearly two-hour speech at the Paris’s Sorbonne University, Macron said the Continent is divided and “too slow and lacks ambition” at a time when the 27-member European Union needs to become a superpower, defend its own borders and speak with one voice if it wants to survive and thrive.

“Our Europe today is mortal,” Macron said. “It can die and that depends solely on our choices,” he added. He called on people to make those choices now because, “it’s today that Europe is between war and peace.”

Russia's aggression in Ukraine, now in its third year, is an existential threat and Europe is not armed enough to defend itself when “confronted by a power like Russia that has no inhibitions, no limits,” Macron said.

‘Our ability to ensure our security is at stake," Macron said. “Russia mustn’t be allowed to win.”

France has been an firm supporter of Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression, and Macron has often clashed with other Western leaders as he has insisted that Europe must stand by the country at any cost. Last month, the French president alarmed European leaders by saying that sending Western troops into Ukraine to shore up its defenses shouldn’t be ruled out.

Referring to trade practices of China and the U.S., Macron said “the two world powers have decided not to respect the rules of global trade” by shoring up protections and subsides while Europe’s industry remains open and is stuck in overregulation.

“Let’s do the same, we are in competition,” Macron said.

Thursday's speech comes ahead of pivotal European Parliament elections.

Macron, a avid advocate of a united and assertive Europe, also rallied support for his centrist Renaissance party ahead of the June 6-9 vote as far-right parties lead the moderate coalitions in the polls. He called for safeguarding the democratic values as the “authoritarian model” that he said was become “more popular” across the Continent.

The French president lost his majority in France’s most influential house of parliament, the National Assembly, after the 2022 election to the far-left coalition and the far-right National Rally party.

The social situation in France remains tense as Paris prepares to host the Olympic Games this summer, amid protests from teachers, police officers, and farmers in recent weeks. The protests follow huge demonstrations last year against Macron’s ultimately successful proposal to rise the retirement age.

Surk reported from Nice, France. AP correspondent Lorne Cook in Brussels contributed.

French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech on Europe in the amphitheater of the Sorbonne University, Thursday, April 25 in Paris. 2024. French President Emmanuel Macron will outline his vision for Europe as a more assertive global power at the backdrop of war in Ukraine, security, and economic challenges in a speech ahead of pivotal election for the European Parliament in June. (Christophe Petit Tesson, Pool via AP)

French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech on Europe in the amphitheater of the Sorbonne University, Thursday, April 25 in Paris. 2024. French President Emmanuel Macron will outline his vision for Europe as a more assertive global power at the backdrop of war in Ukraine, security, and economic challenges in a speech ahead of pivotal election for the European Parliament in June. (Christophe Petit Tesson, Pool via AP)

French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech on Europe in the amphitheater of the Sorbonne University, Thursday, April 25 in Paris. 2024. French President Emmanuel Macron will outline his vision for Europe as a more assertive global power at the backdrop of war in Ukraine, security, and economic challenges in a speech ahead of pivotal election for the European Parliament in June. (Christophe Petit Tesson, Pool via AP)

French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech on Europe in the amphitheater of the Sorbonne University, Thursday, April 25 in Paris. 2024. French President Emmanuel Macron will outline his vision for Europe as a more assertive global power at the backdrop of war in Ukraine, security, and economic challenges in a speech ahead of pivotal election for the European Parliament in June. (Christophe Petit Tesson, Pool via AP)

French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech on Europe in the amphitheater of the Sorbonne University, Thursday, April 25 in Paris. 2024. French President Emmanuel Macron will outline his vision for Europe as a more assertive global power at the backdrop of war in Ukraine, security, and economic challenges in a speech ahead of pivotal election for the European Parliament in June. (Christophe Petit Tesson, Pool via AP)

French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech on Europe in the amphitheater of the Sorbonne University, Thursday, April 25 in Paris. 2024. French President Emmanuel Macron will outline his vision for Europe as a more assertive global power at the backdrop of war in Ukraine, security, and economic challenges in a speech ahead of pivotal election for the European Parliament in June. (Christophe Petit Tesson, Pool via AP)

French President Emmanuel Macron arrives to deliver a speech on Europe in the amphitheater of the Sorbonne University, Thursday, April 25 in Paris. 2024. French President Emmanuel Macron will outline his vision for Europe as a more assertive global power at the backdrop of war in Ukraine, security, and economic challenges in a speech ahead of pivotal election for the European Parliament in June. (Christophe Petit Tesson, Pool via AP)

French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech on Europe in the amphitheater of the Sorbonne University, Thursday, April 25 in Paris. 2024. French President Emmanuel Macron will outline his vision for Europe as a more assertive global power at the backdrop of war in Ukraine, security, and economic challenges in a speech ahead of pivotal election for the European Parliament in June. (Christophe Petit Tesson, Pool via AP)

French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech on Europe in the amphitheater of the Sorbonne University, Thursday, April 25 in Paris. 2024. French President Emmanuel Macron will outline his vision for Europe as a more assertive global power at the backdrop of war in Ukraine, security, and economic challenges in a speech ahead of pivotal election for the European Parliament in June. (Christophe Petit Tesson, Pool via AP)

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a media conference at an EU summit in Brussels, Thursday, April 18, 2024. European Union leaders on Wednesday debated a new "European Competitiveness Deal" aimed at helping the 27-nation bloc close the gap with Chinese and American rivals amid fears the region's industries will otherwise be left behind for good. (AP Photo/Omar Havana)