The biggest film event is back: the 79th edition of the Cannes festival will be less Hollywood, giving preference to foreign filmmakers.
The French Film Festival is annually one of the most anticipated events. Cinema lovers eagerly await the awarded titles, while fashion enthusiasts look forward to the gowns on display. Tuesday evening kicked off a multi-day cultural whirlwind, which is sure to bring many interesting moments. This year's edition comes with a stricter dress code, returning a certain sophistication and the right French elegance to the festival. The main change is also the marked absence of Hollywood studios. However, their stars are certainly not missing on the red carpet. Well-known names are not willing to skip this event on the stunning French Riviera.
The Tuesday evening started in a grand way. The lifetime achievement award was taken home by the director of the well-known The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Peter Jackson. Loyal fans of this fantasy saga surely appreciated that the director was brought on stage by none other than Frodo Baggins himself, Elijah Wood. It likely evoked a bit of nostalgia in everyone present. After all, very few haven't seen The Lord of the Rings based on the books by J. R. R. Tolkien.
"Honestly, I didn't understand why I deserved the Palme d'Or. I thought I wasn't the right type for this award,”
said the New Zealand director.
22 Films Will Compete for the Main Prize
Twenty-two films are vying for the Golden Palm in this year's edition. Instead of works from major Hollywood studios, films by lesser-known creators and producers will attempt to win the award. The main competition this year is predominantly dominated by French-speaking films, with only one American film in the mix.
Family dramas, tears, but also artificial intelligence. The themes shock this year and certainly evoke emotions.
“I believe that film has always been an act of resistance because we tell stories, and stories are what make civilization,”
stated Fonda.
“Let us celebrate courage, freedom, and uncompromising creative action,”
added the actress and producer at the awards ceremony.
The jury this year is chaired by South Korean creator Park Chan-wook. It will be selecting from works by Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar, Iranian exiled filmmaker Asghar Farhadi, Russian director Andrei Zvyagintsev, and Polish creator Paweł Pawlikowski. Diversity will certainly not be lacking.
The Phenomenon of the White Lotus
Who hasn't heard of White Lotus, it's as if they've not been on the internet in recent years. This HBO phenomenon has literally taken over the entire internet. An iconic series about twisted relationships, stunning locations, and iconic soundtracks. That's White Lotus in a nutshell. And the fourth season will take place nowhere else but at the Cannes Film Festival.The serial hit by director Mike White raises great expectations. It is set to be filmed during the festival period, but whether it will be filmed directly at the festival remains a mystery. HBO refuses to comment on it. However, we definitely have something to look forward to.
Travolta's Debut
For many, the directorial debut of the famous actor John Travolta may also be a big surprise. You might know him from cult films like Pulp Fiction or the romantic Grease. At the age of seventy-two, he sat in the director's chair for the first time to film an adaptation of his 1997 book. He also cast his daughter in the film.The film is called Propeller One-Way Night Coach and tells the story of a small boy's adventurous journey during the golden age of commercial aviation. He travels with his mother to Hollywood. Their journey is interwoven with various adventures and unexpected encounters.
Travolta has been to the festival many times. Both on the film screen and as a guest. This year, however, it's his first time as a director, so we will see how he does.
Sources: original text, ČTK, Vogue, Seznam Zprávy, iDnes.cz
