The 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival is set to dazzle the French Riviera as it opens its doors once again, drawing the world’s top filmmakers, actors, and industry professionals. Stars such as Tom Cruise, Pedro Pascal, and Scarlett Johansson are expected to walk the red carpet, while legendary actor Robert De Niro will be honored with an honorary Palme d’Or for his outstanding contribution to cinema.
First conceived in 1939 as a response to political influence at the Venice Film Festival, Cannes became an annual tradition from 1946 onward, only skipping 1948 and 1950 due to financial constraints. Over the decades, Cannes has helped launch the careers of numerous directors, including Quentin Tarantino, and many of its featured films have gone on to achieve critical acclaim and Oscar recognition. The festival also hosts the world’s largest film market, attracting over 15,000 professionals annually.
This year, 22 films will compete for the coveted Palme d’Or. The selection includes The Phoenician Scheme by Wes Anderson, Eddington by Ari Aster, Resurrection by Bi Gan, Jeunes Mères by the Dardenne brothers, Alpha by Julia Ducournau, Renoir by Hayakawa Chie, The History Of Sound by Oliver Hermanus, and La Petite Dernière by Hafsia Herzi. Other notable contenders include Richard Linklater’s Nouvelle Vague, Case 137 by Dominik Moll, Die My Love by Lynne Ramsay, and Sentimental Value by Joachim Trier.
Out-of-competition screenings bring added star power with the premiere of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning headlined by Tom Cruise, and Highest 2 Lowest, directed by Spike Lee, featuring Denzel Washington in his first Cannes red carpet appearance. Meanwhile, Scarlett Johansson, Kristen Stewart, and Harris Dickinson are stepping behind the camera with directorial projects featured in the festival’s smaller sections.
The festival opens with the French-language comedy Leave One Day by Amélie Bonnin. Past Palme d’Or winners include iconic films like Taxi Driver, Apocalypse Now, Pulp Fiction, and Parasite. Last year’s winner, Anora, swept the Oscars with five wins including Best Picture. Notably, only three women—Jane Campion, Julia Ducournau, and Justine Triet—have ever taken home the top prize.
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