CANNES, France — Tuesday marked the beginning of the 79th Cannes Film Festival, launching nearly two weeks of continuous movie premieres that will conclude May 23 when the coveted Palme d’Or is awarded.
The prestigious French Riviera event opened with an homage to Peter Jackson, presenting the “Lord of the Rings” director with an honorary Palme d’Or. Elijah Wood, who portrayed Frodo Baggins in Jackson’s trilogy, made the introduction.
“I’ve never figured out why I’m getting a Palme d’Or. I’m not a Palme d’Or sorta guy,” the disheveled New Zealand director remarked.
Jackson received a musical tribute featuring the Beatles’ “Get Back,” referencing his acclaimed 2021 documentary. The filmmaker was spotted lip-syncing from his seat on stage.
The honor of officially launching the festival went to 88-year-old Jane Fonda and Chinese-Singaporean performer Gong Li.
“Cinema has always been an act of resistance,” Fonda declared.
During the presentation of the jury responsible for selecting the Palme d’Or winner, panel members delivered frank commentary about conducting a film festival amid global political turmoil.
Scottish screenwriter Paul Laverty, recognized for his collaborations with director Ken Loach, referenced this year’s festival poster featuring “Thelma and Louise” while addressing attendance at Cannes during what he termed “genocide in Gaza.”
Drawing from “King Lear,” Laverty stated: “Madmen lead the blind.”
“Cannes has a wonderful poster,” Laverty continued. “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.”
South Korean director Park Chan-wook, known for “Oldboy” and “No Other Choice,” leads the nine-person jury. He emphasized the connection between politics and filmmaking.
“Art and politics are not concepts that are in conflict with each other,” Park explained. “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.”
Additional jury members include Chloé Zhao, Stellan Skarsgård, Ruth Negga and Demi Moore, who gained Cannes recognition two years prior for her return performance in “The Substance.”
The festival has occasionally welcomed figures who receive cooler receptions in Hollywood. Three years prior, Cannes notably opened with Johnny Depp’s “Jeanne du Barry.”
James Franco made a surprise appearance at Tuesday’s opening ceremony. The 48-year-old actor previously attended Cannes in 2024.
In 2021, Franco and fellow defendants paid $2.2 million to resolve litigation claiming he coerced acting school students he taught into inappropriate and exploitative sexual scenarios.
Two decades after Guillermo del Toro debuted his celebrated fairy tale “Pan’s Labyrinth,” the filmmaker returned to Cannes Tuesday for a 4K restoration screening. Del Toro noted the film’s continued relevance, which follows a young girl and fascist officer 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 commented.
