The 70th Cannes Film Festival has opened, with high-wattage stars such as Jessica Chastain, Will Smith and Marion Cotillard lighting up the red carpet.
The 70th Cannes Film Festival has opened, with high-wattage stars such as Jessica Chastain, Will Smith and Marion Cotillard lighting up the red carpet.
Bella Hadid poses as she arrives for the screening of the film Ismael's GhostsLoic Venance/AFPEva Herzigova arrives for the screening of the film Ismael's GhostsLoic Venance/AFPElle Fanning attends the Ismael's Ghosts screening and Opening GalaVittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images for KeringEmily Ratajkowski attends the Ismael's Ghosts screeningTristan Fewings/Getty ImagesAsia Argento poses as she arrives for the screening of the film Ismael's GhostsAlberto Pizzoli/AFP17 May 2017: Julianne Moore and Susan Sarandon arrive for the screening of the film Ismael's Ghosts during the opening ceremony of the 70th edition of the Cannes Film FestivalValery Hache/AFPSusan Sarandon poses as she arrives for the screening of Ismael's GhostsValery Hache/AFPAraya Hargate arrives for the screening of the film Ismael's GhostsRegis Duvignau/ReutersLily-Rose Depp poses as she arrives for the screening of Ismael's GhostsAnne-Christine Poujoulat/AFPJessica Chastain attends the jury photocall during the 70th annual Cannes Film FestivalAndreas Rentz/Getty ImagesJury members Jessica Chastain and Will Smith poseJean-Paul Pelissier/ReutersWill Smith poses during a Cannes Film Festival jury photocallJean-Paul Pelissier/ReutersWill Smith greets the crowds as he arrives for the screening of the film Ismael's GhostsLoic Venance/AFPJeanne Balibar poses during a photocall for the film BarabraJean-Paul Pelissier/ReutersMichelle Williams poses during a photocall for the film WonderstruckStephane Mahe/ReutersVictoria Abril poses as she arrives for the screening of the film Ismael's GhostsAlberto Pizzoli/AFP
Arnaud Desplechin's Ismael's Ghosts, with Mathieu Amalric, Charlotte Gainsbourg and Cotillard, was the opening-night film. Although critics praised some of the performances, they weren't enamoured with Desplechin's farcical, self-referential drama about a filmmaker visited by a long missing ex-wife.
Ahead of the premiere of Ismael's Ghosts, Monica Bellucci presided over an opening ceremony that included a slight riff on the best picture envelope flub that concluded this year's Academy Awards ceremony. In the Cannes version, a new envelope was brought out and the interaction dissolved into a dance that ended with a kiss from Bellucci.
Spanish dancer Blanca Li performs on stage during the opening galaStephane Mahe/ReutersSpanish dancer Blanca Li performs on stage at the opening ceremonyStephane Mahe/ReutersMonica Bellucci and Alex Lutz kiss as they perform on stage during the opening ceremony of the 70th Cannes Film FestivalAlberto Pizzoli/AFP
Security is greater than ever at the French festival, which has stepped up efforts to restrict access, added more metal detectors and even introduced an anti-drone system. France has been under a state of emergency since the November 2015 Paris attacks. This is also the first festival held since the truck attack in nearby Nice killed 86 people last June.
The Cannes Film Festival runs until 28 May, when the Palme d'Or winner and other awards will be announced.
