Tuesday, May 14: Curtains on the 77th Cannes Film Festival are set to rise today, with anticipation filling the air at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès in Cannes, France. The grand opening promises a spectacle, with the unveiling of Greta Gerwig's esteemed jury and the presentation of an honorary Palme d'Or to the illustrious Meryl Streep. Leading the charge into cinematic splendour will be Quentin Dupieux's uproarious French comedy, 'The Second Act', chosen as the festival's opening delight.
India will shine brightly on the Cannes stage this year. Payal Kapadia's luminous creation, 'All We Imagine As Light', will mark a triumphant return for Indian cinema after 30 years of absence from the Palme d'Or competition. The last Indian film to vie for this most prestigious Cannes award was the 1994 Malayalam-language drama ‘Swaham’, directed by Shaji N. Karun.
Among the attendees, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan will grace the red carpet once again, radiating elegance alongside Aditi Rao Hydari and Sobhita Dhulipala.
Adding to the allure, Kiara Advani will reportedly represent India at the Women in Cinema Gala Dinner. Hosted by Vanity Fair in collaboration with the Red Sea Film Foundation, the event brings together six talented women from around the world and honours their accomplishments in the entertainment industry.
Despite the anticipation surrounding films and stars, much attention has been drawn to the off-screen drama surrounding Cannes 2024. For starters, festival workers, discontent with short-term contracts, have threatened to strike due to the lack of unemployment benefits between festivals.
French actor Judith Godrèche's accusations of rape and sexual abuse against two directors earlier this year have sparked a significant #MeToo moment in the French film industry. Godrèche will premiere her short film “Moi Aussi” at the festival.
Iranian filmmaker Mohammed Rasoulof, whose film “The Seed of the Sacred Fig” is competing in Cannes, added further turmoil to the festivities on Monday, after revealing that he has fled Iran after receiving an eight-year prison sentence and flogging for his critical portrayal of the Iranian regime.
Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see how well the 77th Cannes Festival carries the torch of last year's triumphs, where cinematic brilliance birthed Oscar glory by producing three best picture nominees. To revive the spirit of the previous year, Messi, the canine star of “Anatomy of a Fall,” will also be returning to Cannes for a series of French TV spots.
