Cannes, France – The Cannes Film Festival always elicits some kind of awe.
The appearances of cinema royalty, the nightly parade of haute couture and the festival’s ability to launch filmmakers and films big and small onto the world stage combine to produce an array of compelling moments over the course of 12 days in Cannes.
As the festival draws to a close on Saturday, check out some of its most memorable moments through the lens of Associated Press photographers.
From its first day, ’76 proved to be a real eye-catcher, welcoming Johnny Depp back to cinema with the opening film, ‘Jeanne du Barry’.
While some were unhappy with the focus on Depp – who told the Associated Press “I didn’t know what planet I was on” during his appearance at the premiere – the festival quickly put the spotlight on other stars.
Michael Douglas received an honorary Palme d’Or and kisses from his wife and daughter at the top of the famous Palais des Festivals stairs. Harrison Ford, who made his film debut as Indiana Jones, also received an honorary award, choking back tears after playing the most iconic role of his career.
Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio gathered on the red carpet at the premiere of Killers of the Flower Moon, one of the festival’s most popular entries and Scorsese’s return to celebration at the cinema. Riviera. Wes Anderson is back, too, and this time he’s joined by Tom Hanks, Scarlett Johansson, and many more stars from his “Asteroid City” movie.
Six days after her father’s premiere, Lily-Rose Depp launched her controversial project, the HBO series “The Idol.” Young star Depp and The Weeknd graced the red carpet, smiling and laughing together as the paparazzi posed for photos.
The festival continues at its own delicate pace, through daytime press conferences and photos. The French Riviera often serves as a fictional backdrop, like when actor Tom Mercer posed for photographers or actor Ethan Isidore jumped off a platform.
The flashy premieres, however, remain the biggest draw, with fans eager for fleeting glimpses of their heroes. It was a place where stars playfully interacted with the cameras, when the movies stopped, the speculation about awards began as applause helped bring movies to screens around the world.
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For more coverage of this year’s Cannes Film Festival, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/cannes-film-festival
