The 78th Cannes Film Festival, one of the most prestigious events in the world of cinema, opened its doors for the 78th time this year. The festival, which will keep its finger on the pulse of world cinema for 12 days on the Riviera shores of the southern coast of France, kicked off as usual with political references, star-studded red carpet parades, and hopes for great cinema.
Emotional Moments and Political Messages at the Opening
This year, the festival’s opening ceremony went beyond the usual Cannes splendor. It took a political turn. Juliette Binoche, the jury president, paid tribute to Fatima Hassouna, a 25-year-old Palestinian photographer who was killed in an Israeli airstrike last month. The fact that a documentary about Hassouna’s life was selected to be screened at this year’s festival added to the impact of the commemoration. “Fatima should have been here tonight,” Binoche said through tears, emphasizing that artists worldwide resist every day, turning art into a form of resistance.
Binoche’s remarks, which also touched on the Israeli civilians taken hostage by Hamas on October 7, 2023, offered a remarkable example of the festival’s political balance. In a letter published in publications such as Variety and Libération just before the opening night, more than 380 filmmakers, including Ralph Fiennes, Pedro Almodóvar, Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon and many Cannes-winning directors, broke their silence against the ongoing siege on Gaza, saying, “We cannot remain silent while a genocide is taking place.”
Robert De Niro’s Harsh Message to Trump on the Cannes Stage
Awarded the honorary Palme d’Or on the opening night of the 78th Cannes Film Festival, legendary actor Robert De Niro sent a strong salute not only to cinema but also to democracy and freedom of expression. The 81-year-old actor was harshly critical of US President Donald Trump in his acceptance speech. De Niro described Trump as “a president who doesn’t understand art” and brought up the attacks on the arts and culture under his administration.
“In my country, we are fighting hard to preserve the democracy we once took for granted. This concerns all of us. Because art belongs to democracy; it is inclusive; it brings people together. It searches for truth. Art embraces diversity, which is precisely why it is a threat,“ the speech began, plunging the room into deep silence.”
De Niro pointed to Trump’s appointment of himself as head of long-established cultural institutions such as the Kennedy Center and cuts to funding for the arts, humanities, and education, calling it “proof that art is perceived as a threat to autocrats and fascists.”
Opening Film of the Festival: “Leave One Day”
The opening film of the 78th Cannes Film Festival is Leave One Day (Partir Un Jour), the debut feature of French director Amélie Bonnin. The film tells the story of Cécile, who dreams of opening a restaurant in Paris, but a family crisis forces her to return to her village, where she confronts a love from her youth. Juliette Armanet, Bastien Bouillon and François Rollin star in the lead roles.
The jury, chaired by Juliette Binoche, this year includes Halle Berry, Alba Rohrwacher, Leïla Slimani, Jeremy Strong, Payal Kapadia, Carlos Reygadas, Dieudo Hamadi and Hong Sang-soo. The jury will evaluate 21 films and decide on the Palme d’Or, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Actress. The awards will be announced at the closing ceremony on May 24. Momoko Sato’s Dandelion’s Odyssey will be screened afterwards.
