The 79th Cannes Film Festival has officially commenced, ushering in 12 days of highly anticipated premieres and cinematic showcases that will culminate on 23 May with the presentation of the prestigious Palme d’Or.
The opening day saw a blend of celebratory tributes, powerful political statements, and unexpected appearances, setting a dynamic tone for the festival.
Among the first honours bestowed was an honorary Palme d’Or to acclaimed filmmaker Peter Jackson. Introduced by Elijah Wood, who famously played Frodo Baggins in Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, the New Zealand director expressed his surprise.
“I’ve never figured out why I’m getting a Palme d’Or. I’m not a Palme d’Or sorta guy,” he quipped. The tribute concluded with a rendition of The Beatles’ “Get Back,” a nod to Jackson’s lauded 2021 documentary, as the director was seen mouthing the lyrics from the stage.
The official declaration of the festival’s opening fell to two cinematic icons: 88-year-old Jane Fonda and Chinese-Singaporean actor Gong Li. Fonda delivered a poignant message, asserting that “Cinema has always been an act of resistance,” underscoring the art form’s enduring power.
However, the introduction of the jury, tasked with selecting the Palme d’Or winner, quickly shifted focus to pressing global issues. Jury members spoke candidly about the complexities of holding a film festival amidst ongoing geopolitical conflicts.
Scottish screenwriter Paul Laverty, known for his collaborations with Ken Loach, drew attention to the festival’s poster, featuring Thelma and Louise, while discussing what he termed “genocide in Gaza.”
Quoting King Lear, he declared: “Madmen lead the blind.” Laverty further criticised Hollywood, stating: “Isn’t it fascinating to see some of them like Susan Sarandon, Javier Bardem and Mark Ruffalo blacklisted because of their views in opposing the murder of women and children in Gaza? Shame on Hollywood people who do that.”
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Presiding over the nine-member jury is South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook, director of Oldboy and No Other Choice, who offered a nuanced perspective on the intersection of art and politics.
“Art and politics are not concepts that are in conflict with each other,” Park stated. “One cannot disqualify a film on the pretext that it has a political message. Just as one cannot reject a film because it would not be political enough.”
The jury also includes notable figures such as Chloé Zhao, Stellan Skarsgård, Ruth Negga, and Demi Moore, who was celebrated at Cannes two years prior for her comeback performance in The Substance.
The red carpet also saw an unexpected guest in James Franco, an appearance that aligns with Cannes’ occasional history of hosting personalities who have faced a less welcoming reception in Hollywood, as exemplified by the 2022 opening with Johnny Depp’s Jeanne du Barry.
Franco, 48, had also appeared at the festival in 2024. In 2021, he and his co-defendants agreed to a $2.2 million settlement in a lawsuit alleging he intimidated students at an acting and film school he founded into gratuitous and exploitative sexual situations.
Rounding off the day’s events, Guillermo del Toro returned to Cannes to present a 4K restoration of his acclaimed fable, Pan’s Labyrinth, two decades after its premiere. The filmmaker highlighted the continued relevance of his movie, which tells the story of a young girl and a fascist captain in 1940s Spain.
“We are, unfortunately, in times that make this movie more pertinent than ever because they tell us everything is useless to resist, that art can be done with a —-ing app,” del Toro remarked, underscoring the film’s enduring message in a contemporary context.
