American Actor Jane Fonda and Chinese Star Gong Li Open 2026 Cannes Film Festival
The festival opens with a jury led by Park Chan-wook as 22 films compete for the Palme d’Or and winners are set for May 23.
- On Tuesday, May 12, 2026, the 79th annual Cannes Film Festival opened with the premiere of director Pierre Salvadori's 'La Vénus Électrique' and an honorary Palme d'Or presentation to filmmaker Peter Jackson.
- Ahead of the opening, workers installed the official festival poster at the Palais des Festivals on May 10, 2026, featuring actors Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis in 'Thelma & Louise'.
- The festival's jury, led by Jury President Park Chan-wook, includes actors Demi Moore and Ruth Negga, director Chloé Zhao, and actor Stellan Skarsgård to judge official selections.
- Jurors will evaluate 22 films in competition over the coming days to decide major awards including the Palme d'Or, Grand Prix, and Jury Prize, with winners revealed May 23.
- Running through May 23, the festival includes buzzy premieres like 'Fatherland' starring Sandra Hüller, 'Gentle Monster' with Léa Seydoux, and 'Paper Tiger' featuring Adam Driver, Miles Teller, and Scarlett Johansson.
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American actor Jane Fonda and Chinese star Gong Li open 2026 Cannes Film Festival
The 2026 Cannes Film Festival began on Tuesday with actors Jane Fonda and Gong Li presenting the opening ceremony, and New Zealand's Peter Jackson, who directed the Lord of the Rings trilogy, receiving an honorary Palme d'Or award for his career.
Chinese actress Gong Li and American Jane Fonda declared open, Tuesday, the 79th edition of the Cannes Film Festival, at a ceremony marked by the award of Palme d'honneur to the New Zealand director Peter Jackson.
American actress Jane Fonda and Chinese actress Gong Li inaugurated the 79th Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday (12), at a ceremony in which New Zealand filmmaker Peter Jackson, director of the trilogy "The Lord of the Rings", received an honorary Golden Palm. 'To fight is to fight a battle that we will lose': Demi Moore argues that industry must find a way to work with IA Guilt of the Bubbles?Remember why Michael Jackson was refused at Madrid's lu…
IN IMAGES - Tuesday, May 12, the festival started in the Grand Théâtre Lumière. The occasion for the world of cinema to celebrate the director of the Lord of the Rings, twenty-five years after the release of the first film of the saga.
Cannes Film Festival 2026: Opening Ceremony, ‘The Electric Kiss’ Premiere & Palme d’Or Honoree Peter Jackson
Cinema’s most celebrated talents descend upon France as the official poster for the 79th Cannes Film Festival goes up at the Palais des Festivals on May 11, 2026. The festival formally kicked off with that poster installation, then moved to the Hotel Martinez, where jury president Park Chan-wook and his fellow jurors dined on the eve of opening night. Joining Chan-wook on this year’s jury are Demi Moore, Ruth Negga, Laura Wandel, Chloé Zhao, Di…
On Tuesday evening, the eyes of the entire film world will turn to the French seaside city of Cannes, where the traditional jingle will kick off the 79th edition of the most important international film festival at the Grand Théâtre Lumière. It will take place from May 12 to 23.
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