The world’s film elite, including Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio and Quentin Tarantino, gathered tonight for the opening of the 78th Cannes Film Festival.
Cannes will host the premieres of potential blockbusters in the coming days, including “Mission: Impossible – Fallout,” Spike Lee’s “From the Top to the Bottom” and Ari Aster’s “Eddington.”
DiCaprio skipped the red carpet but drew a standing ovation when he presented De Niro with the honorary Palme d’Or, 49 years after “Taxi Driver” won the Palme d’Or.
DiCaprio praised De Niro, 81, as an “archetypal” actor, a fierce critic of US President Donald Trump, for “fighting for our democracy,” the AP reported.
The guests stood at those words and gave De Niro a long standing ovation. DiCaprio handed him the Palme d’Or, and De Niro said, “Thanks, kid.”
After thanking the festival, De Niro quickly moved on to Trump, who recently said he wanted to impose tariffs on films made outside the United States.
“Art is truth. Art embraces diversity. And that’s why art is a threat to the autocrats and fascists of the world,” De Niro said.
The first film to be shown this year is the French romance “Go Someday,” and the premiere will be attended by director Quentin Tarantino, who will pay tribute to Western creator George Sherman tomorrow.
The official opening ceremony was the crowning glory of a busy day in Cannes, which included screenings of three films in honor of Ukraine, the introduction of the jury that will decide on the Palme d’Or, led by Juliette Binoche, and the premiere of the restored Charlie Chaplin film “The Gold Rush” to mark its 100th anniversary.
Photo: LiveIndia
