The event of the year for film lovers and the press opened this Tuesday on the Croisette. The first red carpet of the 79th Cannes Film Festival did not disappoint, setting the stage for an electrifying opening ceremony. Spectators witnessed the first steps of the jury president, South Korean director Park Chan-wook, along with all the jurors: American actress Demi Moore, Belgian director Laura Wandel (known for “Un monde,” presented at Cannes in 2021), Chinese director Chloé Zhao, Irish-Ethiopian actress Ruth Negga, British screenwriter Paul Laverty, Ivorian actor Isaack de Bankolé, Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgård, and young Chilean director Diego Cespedes.
Prior to that, the red carpet paid tribute to one of the French hits of the spring in movie theaters: “Juste une illusion” by Olivier Nakache and Éric Toledano. The film’s soundtrack from the 80s contributed to its success, nearing 1.4 million admissions and performing exceptionally well on streaming platforms.
The team behind the opening film of the festival, “La Vénus électrique,” walked the red carpet, signaling the beginning of numerous screenings at the festival. Pierre Salvadori’s film starring Anaïs Demoustier, Pio Marmaï, Gilles Lellouche, and Vimala Pons opened the series of showings. Not competing for the Palme d’Or, “La Vénus électrique” will make room for the winner after twelve days of screenings, succeeding “Un Simple Accident.”
Among the highlights of the night was the arrival of Peter Jackson on a seemingly empty red carpet, attracting the attention of photographers. The director of “The Lord of the Rings,” set to receive an honorary Palme, was later joined by actor Elijah Wood.
