Coralie Fargeat didn’t just make a movie; she made a mess. A beautiful, gory, neon-soaked mess that has been rattling the teeth of audiences since it first flickered onto the screen at Cannes. If you’ve spent any time on Film Twitter or reading trade mags lately, you’ve probably heard the buzz. People are obsessed. They’re grossed out. But mostly, they’re asking: did The Substance win any awards, or is it just another "midnight movie" destined for cult status without the trophy cabinet to back it up?
It won. Big time.
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The film premiered at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, and honestly, the reaction was polarizing in the best way possible. Some people walked out. Others gave it an 11-minute standing ovation. That’s the kind of energy Fargeat brings to the table. When the dust settled at the Palais des Festivals, The Substance walked away with the Best Screenplay award. For a body-horror film that leans so heavily on visual grotesquerie, winning a writing award is a massive statement. It proves the "substance" of the film isn't just in the prosthetic makeup, but in the biting satire of Hollywood's ageism.
The Cannes Breakthrough and the Best Screenplay Win
Cannes is usually the land of "elevated" drama and slow-burn period pieces. Seeing a movie where someone literally birthed a younger version of themselves through their spine take home a major prize was... unexpected. But the jury, led by Greta Gerwig, clearly saw something deeper. By awarding Coralie Fargeat the Prix du scénario (Best Screenplay), the festival signaled that The Substance was more than just shock value.
It's a tight script. Brutal.
The dialogue is sparse because the imagery does the heavy lifting. Demi Moore plays Elisabeth Sparkle, an aging fitness icon who is told she’s "expired." The writing doesn't need a thousand monologues to explain her desperation; the script maps out a descent into madness that is perfectly paced. When we talk about whether the substance won any awards, this Cannes win is the foundation. It set the stage for everything that followed during its theatrical run and the subsequent awards season cycle.
Demi Moore’s Career-Best Recognition
You can’t talk about the accolades without talking about Demi Moore. This is the "Demi-sance." For years, she was a massive star, then she was sort of relegated to the "where are they now" piles of tabloid fodder. The Substance changed that overnight.
While the film itself was picking up technical nods, Moore started cleaning up at various critics' circles. She wasn't just "good for her age." She was undeniable. She took home the Best Actress award at several regional critics' associations, including the Seattle Film Critics Society and the Las Vegas Film Critics Society.
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There was a real grassroots movement to get her an Oscar nomination. Whether the Academy is "ready" for a movie that features that much exploding flesh is another story, but the industry respect is there. She received a nomination for Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical at the Golden Globes. It’s funny calling this a "comedy," but the Golden Globes love to slot genre-bending films there. Honestly, it fits. The movie is a pitch-black satire, and Moore’s performance is as much about physical comedy as it is about tragic vanity.
Technical Wins: The Craft of Body Horror
Most of the time, when people ask if the substance won any awards, they are thinking about the "big ones." But in the world of filmmaking, the technical awards are where this movie truly dominates. You can't ignore the makeup. You literally can't.
The film’s prosthetic lead, Pierre-Olivier Persin, did work that made veteran horror fans wince. The Substance has been a juggernaut at the Saturn Awards and various genre festivals like Sitges. At Sitges—which is basically the Olympics for horror and fantasy film—it was the belle of the ball. It didn't just win; it dominated the conversation about the future of practical effects in an era of bland CGI.
A Breakdown of Key Accolades:
- Cannes Film Festival: Best Screenplay (Winner)
- European Film Awards: Best European Cinematography (Winner)
- Golden Globes: Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical (Nomination)
- Critics Choice Awards: Best Sci-Fi/Horror Movie (Nomination)
- Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF): People’s Choice Award, Midnight Madness (Winner)
The TIFF win is actually a huge deal. The "Midnight Madness" program is where the weird stuff lives, and winning the People's Choice award there is a massive indicator of commercial cult success. It means the fans—the people who actually pay for tickets—absolutely loved the insanity Fargeat put on screen.
Why the European Film Awards Mattered
For a long time, American audiences ignored the European Film Awards (EFA). That's a mistake. The Substance is a co-production between the UK, France, and the US, and it cleaned up in the technical categories there. Benjamin Kracun won the Best European Cinematographer award for his work on the film.
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Think about the lighting in this movie. It’s oppressive. High-contrast yellows, sterile whites, and deep, bloody reds. Every frame looks like a high-fashion magazine shoot gone horribly wrong. The EFAs recognized that the film’s "look" is inseparable from its message. It’s a movie about the surface of things, so the surface of the film had to be perfect.
Critic Circles and the "Cult" Consensus
As the year progressed, the film became a darling of the "indie" awards circuit. The Gotham Awards and the Independent Spirit Awards both had The Substance on their radars. While it doesn't always win the top prize—often losing out to more traditional "prestige" dramas—it’s almost always in the conversation for "Best Director" or "Best Editing."
The editing by Jerome Eltabet is worth mentioning. It’s rhythmic. It’s fast. It feels like a heartbeat that’s slightly too fast. He won awards from several critics' groups for his ability to stitch together the increasingly chaotic timelines of the two protagonists. Without that editing, the movie would just be gross. With it, it’s a masterpiece of tension.
The "Oscar Snub" Debate
We have to address the elephant in the room: the Oscars. Generally, the Academy hates horror. They’ve hated it since The Exorcist, with a few rare exceptions like The Silence of the Lambs or Get Out. Even though The Substance won major awards at Cannes, it faced an uphill battle with the older voting block of the Academy.
However, the "snub" discourse actually helped the film. It kept it in the news. Every time a major outlet wrote an article about "Why Demi Moore Deserves an Oscar," the film’s profile grew. It became a badge of honor. To the fans, the fact that it might be "too much" for the Oscars is exactly why it’s great. It didn't need a gold statue to prove its worth; it had already won the respect of the international film community and the hardcore genre fans.
Margaret Qualley and the Supporting Recognition
We talk a lot about Demi, but Margaret Qualley’s role as "Sue" was equally pivotal. While she didn't sweep the awards quite like Moore, she did pick up several Best Supporting Actress nominations from critics' groups. Her performance is chilling because it's so vapid. She plays the "perfect" version of a human being with a terrifying lack of empathy.
The chemistry—or rather, the lack thereof—between Moore and Qualley is what makes the script work. Critics at the Chicago Film Critics Association and the London Critics' Circle both highlighted the ensemble work. It’s a two-woman show that feels like a war.
Final Verdict on the Award Run
So, did the substance win any awards? Yes. It won one of the most prestigious writing awards in the world at Cannes. It won technical awards across Europe and North America. It revitalized Demi Moore’s career, earning her more nominations than she’s seen in decades.
But more than the physical trophies, it won the "cultural moment." In twenty years, people aren't going to be talking about the safe, polite dramas that won Best Picture in 2024/2025. They’re going to be talking about the movie where a woman pulled a tooth out of her head in 4K.
What to do next if you're following the awards trail:
- Watch the Cannes Press Conference: If you want to see the moment the film shifted from "weird horror" to "award contender," watch the raw footage of Coralie Fargeat and Demi Moore in France. It’s eye-opening.
- Track the Saturn Awards: These are the gold standard for genre films. If you want to see how The Substance stacks up against traditional sci-fi and horror, keep an eye on the technical categories here.
- Look at the "Best of the Year" Lists: Often, being ranked #1 on a Sight & Sound or Cahiers du Cinéma list carries more weight in the film industry than a trophy from a televised show. Check where The Substance landed—it’s usually near the top.