The 79th Cannes Film Festival officially launched on Tuesday, kicking off 12 days of nonstop premieres that will culminate on May 23 with the presentation of the prestigious Palme d'Or. Here are five notable events from the opening day.
Peter Jackson Receives Honorary Palme d'Or
The French Riviera festival paid tribute to the New Zealand filmmaker, awarding him an honorary Palme d'Or. Introduced by Elijah Wood, who played Frodo Baggins in Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, Jackson expressed surprise at the honor. "I've never figured out why I'm getting a Palme d'Or. I'm not a Palme d'Or sorta guy," he said. The ceremony featured a rendition of the Beatles' "Get Back," a nod to Jackson's acclaimed 2021 documentary. The director sat on stage, mouthing the lyrics.
Jane Fonda and Gong Li Declare Festival Open
The task of officially opening the festival fell to 88-year-old Jane Fonda and Chinese-Singaporean actor Gong Li. "Cinema has always been an act of resistance," Fonda declared.
Political Remarks During Jury Introduction
During the introduction of the jury that will decide the Palme d'Or, members spoke candidly about holding a film festival amid geopolitical tensions. Scottish screenwriter Paul Laverty, known for his collaborations with director Ken Loach, referenced this year's Cannes poster of "Thelma and Louise" while discussing what he termed "genocide in Gaza." Quoting "King Lear," he said, "Madmen lead the blind." Laverty added, "Cannes has a wonderful poster. 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."
The nine-member jury is presided over by South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook, director of "Oldboy" and "No Other Choice." He stated that politics and cinema are inseparable. "Art and politics are not concepts that are in conflict with each other. 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," Park said.
Other jury members include Chloé Zhao, Stellan Skarsgård, Ruth Negga, and Demi Moore, who two years ago was celebrated in Cannes for her comeback performance in "The Substance."
James Franco Appears on Red Carpet
Cannes has sometimes been known for hosting personalities who find a less welcome reception in Hollywood. Three years ago, the festival opened with the Johnny Depp film "Jeanne du Barry." On Tuesday, James Franco was an unexpected guest at the opening ceremony. The 48-year-old actor also appeared in Cannes in 2024. In 2021, Franco and his co-defendants agreed to pay $2.2 million to settle a lawsuit alleging he intimidated students at an acting school he founded into gratuitous and exploitative sexual situations.
Guillermo del Toro Presents Restored 'Pan's Labyrinth'
Twenty years after Guillermo del Toro premiered his acclaimed fable "Pan's Labyrinth," he returned to Cannes on Tuesday to screen a 4K restoration. The filmmaker remarked that the movie, about a young girl and a fascist captain in 1940s Spain, remains relevant. "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 said.
