cannes Film Festival
A-LISTERS DESCENDED ON THE CÔTE D’AZUR TO CELEBRATE THE ANNUAL CANNES FILM FESTIVAL
Stars gathered on the French Riviera last week as Cannes Film Festival returned after a year off due to Covid-19. The red carpet was rolled out and attendees weren’t required to wear masks – with festival president Pierre Lescure, 76, seen breaking the “no kissing” rule almost immediately. Ooh la la!
The first screening of the event was musical Annette, written by band Sparks and directed by Leos Carax. The flick stars French actress Marion Cotillard, 45, and Oscar nominee Adam Driver, 37, who were given standing ovations following the preview. Marion stunned on the red carpet in a shimmering Chanel gown that she described as a “work of art”. Wearing a dapper black suit, Adam told the press there was a “huge sense of relief and excitement” that the event was able to go ahead.
Jodie Foster, 58, walked the carpet in an embellished white number as she was joined by wife Alexandra Hedison, 51. The duo were there to celebrate Jodie being awarded an honorary Palme d’or in celebration of her career. The event was then declared open by the actress and members of the Cannes panel – including jury president Spike Lee, who became the first black man to head up the jury that picked the winners.
Wearing a bright pink suit, the 64-year-old spoke about world leaders – including Donald Trump, Russian president Vladimir Putin and Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro – likening them to “gangsters”. Spike – who has directed films including Malcom X and Blackkklansman – claimed, “They have no morals, no scruples. That’s the world we live in.”
Actresses Jessica Chastain, 44, and Maggie Gyllenhaal, 43, also made glamorous red-carpet appearances. Of course, no A-list event would be complete without supermodels in attendance,
with Bella Hadid, 24, and Candice Swanepoel, 32, popping by to provide some stand-out fashion moments for the cameras.
A screening of Tout S’est Bien Passé (Everything Went Fine) brought Diane Kruger, 44, and Andie Macdowell, 63, out in flowing gowns. Meanwhile, Matt Damon, 50, was brought to tears alongside co-star Camille Cottin, 42, after the screening of his newest film, Stillwater (directed by Oscar-winning screenwriter Tom Mccarthy, no less), at the Grand Théâtre Lumière. They received a five-minute standing ovation from the audience. Brit actress Jodie Turner-smith, 34, also turned heads on the Stillwater red carpet in a white and yellow feathered Gucci gown.
Screen legend Helen Mirren, 75, was seen enjoying a number of various events during the prestigious film festival. She stunned at the Stillwater screening in a sunshine yellow dress, and rocked up to the Velvet Underground screening in a chic white dress, alongside husband Taylor Hackford. The glamorous star was later spotted leaving her hotel in a gorgeous white suit.
Famous mother and daughter Jane Birkin, 74, and Charlotte Gainsbourg, 49, delighted by wearing matching tuxedos. Charlotte, whose late father was French actor and singer Serge Gainsbourg, was in Cannes for the premiere of her directorial debut documentary Jane By Charlotte, for which she followed her iconic actress mother.
Elsewhere, Tilda Swinton, 60, stepped out for the screening of The Souvenir Part II – the first of five films she’ll be representing this year – which was directed by Joanna Hogg, 61. The star – who revealed she’d lent her daughter, Honor, 23, clothes from the 80s to film one scene in The Souvenir – later attended a Chanel dinner wearing a quirky eye patch.
This year, 24 films are up for the coveted Palme d’or – the top prize at the French festival. As the celebrations continue, films by Wes Anderson, Sean Penn and Oliver Stone will be screened. There’s also a documentary about Val Kilmer, who will open up about his battle with throat cancer, while more stars – including Timothée Chalamet and Nicole Kidman – are set to grace the red carpet.
It appears that in Cannes, at least, the stars have got their joie de vivre back.