Cannes Launches: Binoche Leads Jury, De Niro Honored

CANNES, France — The prestigious 78th Cannes Film Festival has commenced with much anticipation, as it promises an array of stars, esteemed filmmakers, and underlying political themes. Over a period of 12 days, the glamorous French Riviera will witness high-profile premieres, including “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning,” Spike Lee’s “Highest 2 Lowest,” and Ari Aster’s “Eddington.” This year’s festival is set to be memorable, with expectations of it being one of the best yet.

The festival’s opening day kicked off with the introduction of Juliette Binoche and her jury, as well as the showcasing of three films paying tribute to Ukraine. The festival opened with Amélie Bonnin’s romantic feature “Leave One Day.” Renowned actor Robert De Niro is set to receive an honorary Palme d’Or at the ceremony, 49 years after “Taxi Driver” earned the top prize at Cannes.

Following a successful 2024 festival that saw multiple films move on to Oscar glory, including “Emilia Perez,” “The Substance,” “Flow,” and the best picture winner “Anora,” there is an understandable buzz in the air. Festival director Thierry Frémaux, however, maintains a relaxed attitude, humorously indicating he only believes in the kind of pressure found in beer, known in France as “bière à la pression.”

Coinciding with the festival’s opening is the conviction of one of France’s iconic actors, Gérard Depardieu, for sexually assaulting two women on a film set in 2021. As a figure frequently associated with Cannes, Depardieu received an 18-month suspended sentence in what is one of France’s most prominent #MeToo incidents.

This year’s film festival is happening in the backdrop of geopolitical discussions, spurred on by U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs on international films. While Frémaux acknowledges the importance of promoting local film production, he considers it premature to comment on these developing plans. Juliette Binoche humorously noted in her comments on the tariff controversy that Trump is trying hard to “save America and save his ass” in multiple ways.

Joining Binoche on the jury are eight other notable figures, including Halle Berry. Interestingly, the festival has introduced new dress protocols that prohibit nudity and long dress trains. Despite having an elaborate dress designed for the occasion, Berry expressed her plans to opt for a different outfit.

On a classic note, Cannes will once again host Tom Cruise, who returns three years after “Top Gun: Maverick,” with the latest installment of the “Mission: Impossible” series debuting on Wednesday. In the race for the Palme d’Or are 22 diverse films, featuring works by Wes Anderson, Richard Linklater, Lynne Ramsay, and many others vying for the coveted award.

The festival, which draws to a close on May 24, also showcases a segment titled Un Certain Regard. Here, several actors will make their directorial debut, including Harris Dickinson with “Urchin,” Kristen Stewart with “The Chronology of Water,” and Scarlett Johansson presenting “Eleanor the Great.”

Current geopolitical matters find prominence at the festival, with the screening of three 2025 Ukraine documentaries: “Zelensky,” Bernard-Henri Lévy’s “Notre Guerre,” and a co-production of The Associated Press and Frontline titled “2000 Meters to Andriivka,” directed by Oscar-winner Mstyslav Chernov. The festival emphasized that this focus on Ukraine serves as a testament to the dedication of artists and journalists in bringing to light the narrative of this European conflict.

Adding a historical lens to the opening, a century-old classic, Charlie Chaplin’s “The Gold Rush,” will be presented in a restored version as part of the festival’s schedule, ensuring a blend of contemporary and classic cinema at Cannes.