The 77th edition of the Cannes Film Festival got underway in the south of France on Tuesday (14 May) and will run all the way through to Saturday 25 May, with “Barbie” director Greta Gerwig, A-lister Meryl Streep and Oscar nominee Lily Gladstone among the stars in attendance.
Gerwig to playing starring role in Cannes
Gerwig has a special role to play at this year’s edition, that of Jury President for the main competition. She will therefore head the jury that decides which films will receive an award, with Gladstone and Bond girl Eva Green among the international list of jurors.
As ever, the festival will preview new films of all genres from all around the world which will be released later this year.
Streep to take honorary award
Streep will also take a certain amount of the limelight as she will take one of three Honorary Palmes d’Or, given to directors or actors who had achieved a notable body of work but who had never won a competitive Palme d’Or, the highest award at the festival.
This year’s other recipients are George Lucas, the creator of the “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones” franchises, and Japanese animation studio Studio Ghibli.
The big names arrived in Cannes on Tuesday to great fanfare, here’s how they scrubbed up for one of the most eagerly anticipated events of the year.
Meryl Streep
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Meryl Streep poses on the red carpet during arrivals for the opening ceremony and the screening the film "Le deuxieme acte" (The Second Act) Out of competition at the 77th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, May 14, 2024. REUTERS/Stephane MaheStephane MaheREUTERS
Greta Gerwig
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Greta Gerwig, Jury President of the 77th Cannes Film Festival, gestures on the red carpet during arrivals for the opening ceremony and the screening the film "Le deuxieme acte" (The Second Act) Out of competition at the 77th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, May 14, 2024. REUTERS/Stephane MaheStephane MaheREUTERS
Lily Gladstone
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Jury member of the 77th Cannes Film Festival Lily Gladstone poses on the red carpet during arrivals for the opening ceremony and the screening the film "Le deuxieme acte" (The Second Act) Out of competition at the 77th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, May 14, 2024. REUTERS/Clodagh KilcoyneClodagh KilcoyneREUTERS
Jury member Pierfrancesco Favino arrives on stage during the opening ceremony and the screening of the film "Le deuxieme acte" (The Second Act) Out of competition at the 77th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, May 14, 2024. REUTERS/Sarah MeyssonnierSarah MeyssonnierREUTERS
Cinta Laura Kiehl
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Cinta Laura Kiehl poses on the red carpet during arrivals for the opening ceremony and the screening the film "Le deuxieme acte" (The Second Act) Out of competition at the 77th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, May 14, 2024. REUTERS/Stephane MaheStephane MaheREUTERS
Deepti Sadhwani
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Deepti Sadhwani poses on the red carpet during arrivals for the opening ceremony and the screening the film "Le deuxieme acte" (The Second Act) Out of competition at the 77th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, May 14, 2024. REUTERS/Yara NardiYara NardiREUTERS
Helen Christensen
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Helena Christensen poses on the red carpet during arrivals for the opening ceremony and the screening the film "Le deuxieme acte" (The Second Act) Out of competition at the 77th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, May 14, 2024. REUTERS/Clodagh KilcoyneClodagh KilcoyneREUTERS
— best of léa seydoux (@badpostseydoux) May 14, 2024
Hirokazu Kore-eda
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Jury member Hirokazu Kore-eda poses on the red carpet during arrivals for the opening ceremony and the screening the film "Le deuxieme acte" (The Second Act) Out of competition at the 77th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, May 14, 2024. REUTERS/Sarah MeyssonnierSarah MeyssonnierREUTERS
Heidi Klum
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Heidi Klum poses on the red carpet during arrivals for the opening ceremony and the screening the film "Le deuxieme acte" (The Second Act) Out of competition at the 77th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, May 14, 2024. REUTERS/Yara NardiYara NardiREUTERS
Rose Bertram
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Rose Bertram poses on the red carpet during arrivals for the opening ceremony and the screening the film "Le deuxieme acte" (The Second Act) Out of competition at the 77th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, May 14, 2024. REUTERS/Stephane MaheStephane MaheREUTERS
Vincent Lindon
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Cast member Vincent Lindon poses on the red carpet during arrivals for the opening ceremony and the screening the film "Le deuxieme acte" (The Second Act) Out of competition at the 77th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, May 14, 2024. REUTERS/Sarah MeyssonnierSarah MeyssonnierREUTERS
Jane Fonda
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Jane Fonda poses on the red carpet during arrivals for the opening ceremony and the screening the film "Le deuxieme acte" (The Second Act) Out of competition at the 77th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, May 14, 2024. REUTERS/Sarah MeyssonnierSarah MeyssonnierREUTERS
The Cannes Film festival is one of the “big three” European film festivals, along with Venice and Berlin. That trio of events forms part of the five major international festivals, which also includes Toronto International Film Festival in Canada and Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.