The 79th Cannes Film Festival is set to begin soon on the French Riviera, bringing 12 days of film premieres, red carpet appearances, and major screenings before concluding on May 23 with the announcement of the Palme d'Or.
This year’s edition looks different from previous years, with fewer major Hollywood films and stars taking part. In earlier editions, large studios and A-list actors regularly made Cannes a key stop for film promotion. This year, however, some studios have reportedly stayed away because of high costs and mixed audience responses.
Despite the reduced Hollywood presence, several well-known names and projects are still expected to draw attention at the festival.
Scarlett Johansson will return to Cannes with Paper Tiger, directed by James Gray and co-starring Adam Driver. John Travolta is also set to appear at the festival to present his directorial debut, Vol de Nuit pour Los Angeles, in the Cannes Premieres section.
Travolta has a long history with Cannes, where films including Pulp Fiction, She’s So Lovely, and Primary Colors were previously screened.
The festival will also feature a tribute to filmmaker Peter Jackson, who will receive the Palme d'honneur for his contribution to cinema. A free outdoor screening at Cinema de la Plage is also expected to attract audiences.
Cate Blanchett and Tilda Swinton are among the other stars expected to attend this year’s edition.
The Grand Lumiere Theatre will host a special midnight screening of the first Fast and the Furious film to celebrate the franchise’s 25th anniversary. The event will reunite cast members Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, and Jordana Brewster, along with producer Neal H. Moritz and Meadow Walker, the daughter of the late Paul Walker.