Cannes Film Festival opens with star power, AI debate

The Cannes Film Festival opens on Tuesday, bringing two weeks of world premieres, red carpets, parties and high-fashion moments to the French Riviera.
This year, 22 films are competing for the Palme d’Or, the festival’s top prize, which will be awarded on May 23. The main competition brings together major arthouse names including Spain’s Pedro Almodovar, Japan’s Hirokazu Kore-eda and Romania’s Cristian Mungiu, alongside emerging filmmakers such as Belgian director Lukas Dhont and France’s Lea Mysius.
Among the most talked-about films is “Hope” by South Korean director Na Hong-jin, starring real-life partners Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander. Kore-eda’s “Sheep in the Box”, which explores artificial intelligence and technology, is also expected to draw strong attention. This year’s jury will be headed by South Korean director Park Chan-Wook and includes US actress Demi Moore.
One notable absence is Hollywood’s blockbuster machine. Unlike previous editions, which featured major Tom Cruise-led productions such as “Top Gun” and “Mission: Impossible”, no major US studio is using Cannes to launch a big commercial film this year. The shift reflects cost-cutting, changing marketing strategies and the risk of harsh Cannes reviews hurting a film before release.
Still, the festival will not be short on star power. John Travolta will present his directorial debut, “Propeller One-Way Night Coach”, about a young boy’s journey during the golden age of aviation. Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver are expected for James Gray’s thriller “Paper Tiger”, while Rami Malek stars in Ira Sachs’ “The Man I Love”.
Other expected names include Javier Bardem, Renate Reinsve, Kristen Stewart, Woody Harrelson, Julianne Moore and Cate Blanchett. Barbra Streisand and “Lord of the Rings” director Peter Jackson will receive lifetime achievement awards.
Russian director Andrey Zvyagintsev returns with “Minotaur”, his first film since 2017, tackling conscription during the Ukraine war. Steven Soderbergh’s “John Lennon: The Last Interview” is also likely to stir debate for its use of AI-generated images of the late musician. — AFP