The Cannes Film Festival opened its doors on the French Riviera amid the usual fanfare that mixes industry insiders with global celebrities. Along the Croisette, the atmosphere combined elegance and speculation: this edition features a lighter presence of major American blockbusters while emphasizing the work of international auteurs. The opening ceremony included a notable tribute when Peter Jackson received an honorary Palme d’Or, a moment introduced by Elijah Wood. A roster of familiar names — including Scarlett Johansson, Rami Malek, Javier Bardem, Isabelle Huppert and Catherine Deneuve — was expected to appear along with a jury that features Demi Moore and Ruth Negga. The 79th festival runs to May 23 and continues to act as a global stage for discovery and debate.
The red carpet remains one of the festival’s most photographed stages, a place where fashion, film promotion and personal statements converge. Some artists come to promote films in competition, others to support peers or simply to participate in photocalls and panel events. Actress Kristen Stewart, for example, has been a recurring presence on the Croisette for years, appearing at premieres and jury duties across multiple editions — including noted outings in 2012, 2016, 2018, 2026 and again in 2026 — illustrating how a single performer can supply both stylistic headlines and consistent cinematic engagement. These recurring appearances help create an ongoing visual and cultural narrative around the festival.
Notable filmmakers and the competition focus
Cannes this season prioritized the voices of established and emerging international directors. Anticipated auteurs on the lineup included Pedro Almodóvar, James Gray, Cristian Mungiu, Ryusuke Hamaguchi and Diego Luna, filmmakers whose work fuels discussion about form and authorial perspective. The festival also featured entries from respected names such as Asghar Farhadi, whose ensemble drama included veterans like Isabelle Huppert and Vincent Cassel. The programming leaned toward films that invite sustained critical attention rather than mass-market visibility, reinforcing Cannes’ reputation as a place where the official competition spotlights craft, thematic ambition and the distinct voices of world cinema.
Stars on the Croisette and red carpet moments
Beyond the competition itself, Cannes showcased a long list of high-profile arrivals. Alongside the assembled auteurs, names such as Sebastian Stan, Charles Melton and Sandra Hüller joined established icons like Jane Fonda on the promenade. The festival’s jury, headed by figures from diverse cinematic backgrounds, influenced expectations about possible winners and trends. The red carpet continues to operate as both a promotional tool and a cultural stage: photographers, stylists and publicists choreograph appearances that range from classic glamour to deliberate provocations. These moments, while fleeting, often shape industry buzz that carries beyond Cannes’ physical borders.
Catherine Deneuve: an emblem still at work
One of the edition’s most discussed presences was Catherine Deneuve, who arrived with her pointed-eared Shiba Inu named Jack — “not Jacques, Jack!” she quipped — a small, companionable detail that punctuates a long career. Deneuve’s appearances are both domestic and iconic: she prefers modest, purposeful roles and often asks whether a small part truly matters to a film’s narrative before accepting it. Her breakout as a leading figure began with The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, a film that helped define her early status. Over the decades she has embraced roles ranging from the romantic ingenue to darker, more transgressive characters in films such as Repulsion and Belle de Jour, creating a persona that is at once alluring, ambiguous and central to French cinema’s international image.
Legacy, politics and artistic choices
Deneuve’s career combines artistic risk with a complex public profile. She has been an active voice on civic issues — notably signing the 1971 Manifesto of the 343, opposing the death penalty and speaking out on contemporary injustices — while also courting controversy with certain public statements that divided opinion. On set, she has described a preference for roles that sustain the story and has spoken about boundaries around on-screen nudity, suggesting that remaining a character can be complicated when a scene strips a performer down to a body. This blend of artistic rigor, political engagement and personal selectivity helps explain why Deneuve remains a focal point at Cannes.
What to watch during the festival
As the festival progresses, attention will pivot toward premieres, jury deliberations and the interplay between auteur premieres and high-profile appearances. Watch for the outcomes of the official competition, the reception of films by internationally noted directors and any tributes or honorary awards that echo through industry coverage. Moments such as the honorary Palme d’Or for Peter Jackson — and the public response to it — often frame conversations that endure long after the final screening. Ultimately, Cannes still operates as a vital crossroads where cinema’s present and future are negotiated, celebrated and contested.
