Actress Chiara Mastroianni welcomed audiences at the opening ceremony of Cannes Film Festival.
She took the stage alongside Moroccan director Maryam Touzani, French actor Denis Ménochet, British-Zambian screenwriter and director Rungano Nyoni, American actress and director Brie Larson, the American actor Paul Dano, Afghan writer Atiq Rahimi, Argentine director Damián Szifron and the French director Julia Ducournau, who make up the Feature Film jury presided over by the Swedish director Ruben Östlund.
The renowned festival was founded in 1946.
“What makes cinema unique is watching films together, physically in the same room,” said Ostlund, the director of six films, two of which have already won the Palme d’or: The Square in 2017 and Triangle of Sadness in 2022.
Shorly after, actress Uma Thurman called Michael Douglas to the stage. Douglas is the honoree and special guest of the 76th Cannes Film Festival.
“The Honorary Palme d’or is attributed to those who have had a deep and lasting impact on cinema. I don’t see how anyone other than Michael Douglas could be more deserving. A unique titan, an eternal star and a radiant artist,” Thurman said.
“After years of an epidemic and wars that are tearing the world apart, more than ever, this festival reminds us that there is something positive. Cinema underlines our commonalities, can transcend our limits and unite human beings. To Cannes and to France: I embrace you with all my heart,” Douglas said to the audience.
After, actress Catherine Deneuve officially opened the festival alongside Douglas.
The opening ceremony was followed by a screening of Maïwenn‘s Jeanne du Barry with Johnny Depp.
The opening ceremony was broadcast live in France on France 2 and internationally on Brut.
The world can watch on France.tv, Culturebox, Brut. Cannes, YouTube and on the official site of the Festival de Cannes.
