On the coast of the French Riviera, the red carpet of the world's most prestigious film festival, Cannes, has been rolled out from May 13th to May 24th, 2025.

Cannes is a grand celebration of global cinema, renowned for its glamorous red carpet moments and the prestigious Palme d’Or award.

Cinematic Highlights

The 78th Cannes Film Festival will take place from May 13 to 24, 2025. It commenced with a heartfelt tribute to Robert De Niro, marking the 49th anniversary of his Palme d'Or win for Taxi Driver on the very first day of Cannes. Leonardo DiCaprio presented De Niro with an honorary Palme d'Or praising his profound impact on cinema. In his acceptance speech, De Niro addressed contemporary political issues emphasizing the importance of art in democracy.

The evening also featured the screening of a restored 4K version of Charlie Chaplin's The Gold Rush, celebrating its 100th anniversary. Introduced by Chaplin's granddaughter, Kiera Chaplin, the film added a nostalgic touch to the opening night.

The official poster of the festival pays homage to classic cinema, featuring a double portrait of Anouk Aimée and Jean-Louis Trintignant from Claude Lelouch's 1966 Palme d'Or-winning film A Man and a Woman.

Among the major premieres, Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning received a five-minute standing ovation at its world premiere. Cruise, joined by director Christopher McQuarrie and co-stars, expressed gratitude to fans and colleagues, reflecting on his nearly 30 years of journey as Ethan Hunt.

Director Julia Ducournau returned with Alpha, a poignant exploration of grief and transformation through the lens of a fictitious virus. The film delves into themes of bodily metamorphosis and intergenerational trauma.

Fashion Highlights amidst New Rules

At the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, fashion took center stage as celebrities navigated the newly implemented dress code, which prohibited sheer clothing and voluminous trails to ease red carpet movement. Despite these restrictions, some stars made bold fashion statements.

Supermodel Heidi Klum turned heads in a dramatic Elie Saab gown featuring a voluminous pink trail, directly challenging the new rules.

Bella Hadid wore a daring black Saint Laurent dress that tested the boundaries of the "no nudity" rule with its revealing design, complemented by emerald earrings and a diamond ring.

Controversies

Beyond fashion, the festival became a platform for political expression. Juliette Binoche delivered a poignant speech honouring Fatima Hassouna, a 25-year-old Palestinian photojournalist killed in Gaza, highlighting the intersection of art and activism.

In all regions of the world, artists are fighting every day and turning that resistance into art. On April 16 at dawn, in Gaza, 25-year-old photojournalist Fatima Hassouna and ten of her loved ones were killed by a missile that struck their home. The day before her death, she learned that the film she appeared in had been selected here, at the Festival de Cannes. Fatima should have been with us tonight. Art endures. It is the powerful witness of our lives and our dreams—and we, the audience, embrace it. May the Festival de Cannes, where everything can shift, contribute to this!

Additionally, the screening of a short film entirely written by AI sparked discussions about the future of storytelling and the role of technology in cinema.

India's Prominent Presence

India's presence at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival is both dynamic and multifaceted, highlighting the nation's cinematic prowess and cultural richness. A notable milestone is the inclusion of acclaimed filmmaker Payal Kapadia on the official Cannes jury, following her historic Grand Prix win in 2024 for "All We Imagine As Light" .

The festival also features a diverse lineup of Indian films:

Homebound: Directed by Neeraj Ghaywan and starring Janhvi Kapoor and Ishaan Khatter, this film delves into themes of identity and belonging and will be showcased on May 21, 2025.

Tanvi The Great: Anupam Kher's directorial debut, featuring an ensemble cast including Iain Glen and Boman Irani, will be premiered at the Marché du Film on May 17th. He also met Robert De Niro, where Anupam Kher spoke about the film to him.

Aranyer Din Ratri: A restored 4K version of Satyajit Ray's classic will be showcased in the Cannes Classics section. The Instagram post shared by the Film Heritage Foundation says:

Satyajit Ray's masterpiece Aranyer Din Ratri (Days and Nights in the Forest, 1970) was restored by The Film Foundation's World Cinema Project at L'Immagine Ritrovata in collaboration with Film Heritage Foundation, Janus Films, and The Criterion Collection.

Veteran actor Sharmila Tagore will attend the screening of the film along with other cast members such as Simi Garewal.

Omlo: A poignant Rajasthani-language film by debutant Sonu Randeep Choudhury, exploring themes of trauma and resilience was showcased on 13th May.

Charak: Also featured at Cannes this year is Charak, a Bengali-language film helmed by director Sheiladitya Moulik. The film draws from the vibrant ritual of Charak Puja, a traditional spring festival celebrated in Bengal.

A Doll Made Up of Clay: In the La Cinef section which is reserved for emerging filmmakers from film schools across the globe comes a thought-provoking short titled A Doll Made Up of Clay. Directed by Ethiopian filmmaker Kokob Gebrehweria Tesfay and produced by Sahil Manoj Ingle from Kolkata’s Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI), the film follows a Nigerian footballer whose dreams are shattered after a career-ending injury in India.

Indian films have been making waves around the world for years, and their reach keeps expanding.

Taking this further, the Bharat Pavilion was launched at the 78th Cannes Film Festival on Thursday. Well-known names like Anupam Kher and Shekhar Kapur were present at the event, along with several other big names from the film industry.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan will mark her 23rd year at Cannes, while Alia Bhatt will debut as a global ambassador for L'Oréal Paris.

On the red carpet, Bollywood star Urvashi Rautela stunned in a vibrant Michael Cinco gown with a crystal parrot clutch worth ₹4.68 lakh. Her look drew mixed reactions, some calling it bizarre. A viral video of her stuck in a revolving door added to the buzz of the netizens.

Seventeen-year-old Nitanshi Goel, acclaimed for her role in "Laapataa Ladies," became the youngest Indian actor to debut on the Cannes red carpet. She wore a gorgeous pre-draped ivory saree that honoured the nation's rich textile history. The most eye-catching element amongst everything was a custom-made pearl hairpiece by Be Abhika. Featuring cascading pearl strands and tiny photo frames, the accessory was more than a fashion statement because it was a heartfelt tribute. The frames carried images of iconic Indian actresses including Madhubala, Rekha, Sridevi, Vaijayanti Mala, Hema Malini, Wahida Rehman, and Nutan. 

Jacqueline Fernandez was honoured in the 'Women in Cinema' initiative, celebrating her contributions to the industry.

Additionally, producer Guneet Monga Kapoor launched 'Women in Film India' at Cannes, to promote gender equity in Indian cinema.

But beyond the red carpets and flashing cameras, for me Cannes has always been more than a film festival. As a child, I used to wait eagerly to see who wore what, which Indian films made it to the global stage, and which stars received standing ovations. That same wide-eyed excitement hasn’t faded with time but it’s only grown deeper. Now, I watch not just for the glamour, but for the stories, the statements, and the cinematic magic that Cannes showcases year after year. Some things change, but the excitement Cannes brings? That stays timeless.

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