The cast pose for photographers upon departure from the premiere of the film ‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’ at the 77th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Wednesday, May 15, 2024. (Photo by Andreea Alexandru/Invision/AP)
CANNES, France — Hollywood royalty is back at the Cannes Film Festival for its annual celebration of cinema along the French Riviera.
Premieres bring an elegant parade of stars nightly and moments that become indelible Cannes images, whether it’s Francis Ford Coppola’s return to the Palais des Festivals or French actor Judith Godrèche and other actors posing with their hands over their mouths to draw attention to France’s burgeoning #MeToo movement.
“Me Too” director Judith Godreche, center, poses with hands covering their mouth upon arrival at the premiere of the film ‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’ at the 77th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Wednesday, May 15, 2024. (Photo by Andreea Alexandru/Invision/AP)
There’s time for levity, too, like Anya Taylor-Joy saluting her “Furiosa” director, George Miller, or the arrival of Messi, the canine “Anatomy of a Fall” star who performed tricks for photographers and served as a bridge to last year’s standout festival.
Anya Taylor-Joy, left, and director George Miller pose for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film ‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’ at the 77th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Wednesday, May 15, 2024. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)
Daytime photocalls can become playgrounds for stars and photographers alike, like when Nic Cage tossed his hat while promoting “The Surfer.” (Hats have been a go-to accessory this year, worn by Coppola and Giancarlo Esposito at the “Megalopolis” premiere; Meryl Streep, an honorary Palme d’Or recipient, opted for one for her photocall.)
Nicolas Cage poses for photographers at the photo call for the film ‘The Surfer’ at the 77th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Friday, May 17, 2024. (Photo by Daniel Cole/Invision/AP)
Filmmakers praise Cannes for the way it celebrates films and the global platform it provides. So it’s only fitting that Coppola returned, 45 years after his “Apocalypse Now” swept through the festival, and so did Paul Schrader, who wrote the 1976 Palme d’or Or winner “Taxi Driver.”
Giancarlo Esposito, from left, Chloe Fineman, Nathalie Emmanuel, director Francis Ford Coppola, Adam Driver, Aubrey Plaza and Jon Voight pose for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film ‘Megalopolis’ at the 77th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 16, 2024. (Photo by Daniel Cole/Invision/AP)
Joe Alwyn, from left, Hong Chau, Willem Dafoe, Emma Stone, director Yorgos Lanthimos, and Jesse Plemons pose for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film ‘Kinds of Kindness’ at the 77th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Friday, May 17, 2024. (Photo by Andreea Alexandru/Invision/AP)
Jury member Eva Green poses for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film ‘Kinds of Kindness’ at the 77th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Friday, May 17, 2024. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
Uma Thurman poses for photographers at the photo call for the film ‘Oh, Canada’ at the 77th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Saturday, May 18, 2024. (Photo by Daniel Cole/Invision/AP)
Shia LaBeouf, from left, Laurence Fishburne, Aubrey Plaza, Adam Driver, director Francis Ford Coppola, Nathalie Emmanuel and Giancarlo Esposito pose for photographers upon departure from the premiere of the film ‘Megalopolis’ at the 77th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 16, 2024. (Photo by Andreea Alexandru/Invision/AP)
Miller, too, has been a vocal fan of the Cannes festival since serving as a juror and has used it to launch several films.
“I got addicted it to simply because it’s like film camp,” he says. “It’s kind of optimal cinema, really.”
And there’s still another week to go.