Cannes Film Festival opens

Singer Beth Ditto, at front, performs as members of the jury from left, Nanni Moretti, Diane Kruger, Ewan McGregor, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Hiam Abbass, Andrea Arnold, and Raoul Peck at the opening ceremony at the 65th international film festival, in Cannes, southern France, Wednesday, May 16, 2012. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

CANNES, France — The 65th Cannes Film Festival opened on Wednesday with a gala premiere of Wes Anderson’s teen elopement fantasy “Moonrise Kingdom.”

“The Artist” star Berenice Bejo officially declared the French Riviera showcase open together with the US director and the star-studded cast of his film, the first of 22 vying for the Palme d’Or top prize.

Starring Bruce Willis, Tilda Swinton, Bill Murray and Edward Norton as well as its teen heroes, the bittersweet tale of first love kicks off 12 days of screenings, deal-making and champagne-fuelled parties.

Earlier, the red-clad French actress, this year’s mistress of ceremonies, introduced a short film on jury head Nanni Moretti, who has brought six films to Cannes and won the Palme d’Or in 2001.

“Thank you to this country which, unlike others, always makes space for cinema,” Moretti said in return.

Larger-than-life rocker Beth Ditto also performed a jazzed-up rendition of “Candle in the Wind” — originally written by Elton John about Marilyn Monroe, who is honoured as the face of the festival 50 years after her death.