Short answers, pulled from the story.
The city of Cannes was selected to host a new international film festival on the 31st of May 1939. This decision followed a proposal by Jean Zay, the French Minister of National Education, alongside historian Philippe Erlanger and journalist Robert Favre Le Bret.
The festival was cancelled because German troops invaded Poland on the 1st of September 1939 just one day after the opening gala. The French government ordered general mobilization and declared war against Germany on the 3rd of September, forcing the cancellation.
A major shift occurred in 1955 when the Palme d'Or replaced the Grand Prix du Festival that had been given until then. The most prestigious award given at Cannes is now known as the Palme d'Or or Golden Palm for the best film.
In 2013, the festival made its only decision to award the Palme d'Or not just to director Abdellatif Kechiche but also to lead actresses Léa Seydoux and Adèle Exarchopoulos for Blue Is the Warmest Colour. This remains the sole instance where this specific dual award structure was applied.
Iris Knobloch was elected first woman president of the festival in 2022. She succeeded Pierre Lescure who had served since 2014 and holds a renewable three-year mandate appointed by the board of directors.