The Cannes Film Festival opens on Tuesday with Greta Gerwig’s jury and a special award for Meryl Streep. This kicks off the 77th edition of the festival, held on the French Riviera. For the next 10 days, many famous stars will walk down the red carpet. The first movie to be shown is “The Second Act,” a French comedy featuring Lea Seydoux, Vincent Lindon, Louis Garrel, and Raphaël Quenard. During the opening ceremony, Meryl Streep will receive an honorary Palme d’Or, a prestigious award.
Several highly anticipated movies will premiere at Cannes, including George Miller’s “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga,” Francis Ford Coppola’s “Megalopolis,” and new films by Paolo Sorrentino, Yorgos Lanthimos, Andrea Arnold, and Kevin Costner.
However, this year’s festival has faced some challenges. Earlier this year, French actor Judith Godrèche accused two film directors of rape and sexual abuse from when she was a teenager. This has brought a significant #MeToo moment to the French film industry. Godrèche will premiere her short film “Moi Aussi” on Wednesday, addressing these issues.
Festival workers are also unhappy with their short-term contracts, which leave them without unemployment benefits between festivals. They have threatened to strike.
Another dramatic event involves Iranian filmmaker Mohammed Rasoulof. His film “The Seed of the Sacred Fig” will premiere in competition at Cannes. Rasoulof recently fled Iran after being sentenced to eight years in prison and flogging. His film criticizes the Iranian government.
Despite these challenges, many people are excited to see the stars who will attend Cannes. Some of the celebrities expected to appear include Emma Stone, Anya Taylor-Joy, Demi Moore, Selena Gomez, Nicolas Cage, and Barry Keoghan. George Lucas will receive an honorary Palme d’Or at the closing ceremony on May 25.
Last year’s Cannes Film Festival was very successful, featuring films that went on to be nominated for Oscars, such as “Anatomy of a Fall,” “The Zone of Interest,” and “Killers of the Flower Moon.” To capture some of last year’s excitement, Messi, the dog from “Anatomy of a Fall,” will return to Cannes for some French TV appearances.
A successful Cannes Film Festival will keep France in the global spotlight throughout the summer. Following the festival, France will host other major events like the French Open, the Tour de France, and the summer Olympics in Paris. On May 21, the Olympic flame will be carried up the steps to the Palais des Festivals, the main venue for the Cannes Film Festival.
In summary, the 77th Cannes Film Festival is set to be an exciting event with a mix of star-studded premieres, significant social issues, and the return of beloved stars. The festival’s outcome could have a lasting impact on France’s presence on the world stage this summer.
