Carys Zeta Douglas, from left, Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones pose for photographers upon arrival at the opening ceremony and the premiere of the film 'Jeanne du Barry' at the 76th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)
The Associated Press
CANNES, France -- The Cannes Film Festival always commands a certain amount of awe.
The appearances by cinema royalty, the nightly parade of high fashion and the festival's ability to launch filmmakers and films large and small onto the global stage all combine to produce an array of eye-catching moments during the 12 days of Cannes.
As the festival draws to a close Saturday, see some of its standout moments through the lenses of photographers for The Associated Press.
From its first day, the 76th edition demonstrated its ability to draw attention, hosting Johnny Depp’s return to cinema with the opening night film, “Jeanne du Barry.”
While some were irked by the emphasis on Depp — who told the AP "I didn’t know what planet I was on” during his appearance for the premiere — the festival quickly turned the spotlight onto other stars.
Michael Douglas accepted an honorary Palme d’Or and kisses from his wife and daughter at the top of the festival’s famed Palais stairs. Harrison Ford, debuting his last film as Indiana Jones, also accepted an honorary award, choking back tears after a career highlight reel was played.
Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio reunited on the red carpet at the premiere for “Killers of the Flower Moon,” one of the festival’s most prestigious entries and a return for Scorsese to the French Riviera cinema celebration. Wes Anderson also returned, this time joined by Tom Hanks, Scarlett Johansson and the many stars of his film “Asteroid City.”
Six days after her father’s premiere, Lily-Rose Depp debuted her own controversial project, the HBO series “The Idol.” The younger Depp and costar The Weeknd shined on the red carpet and smiled and laughed together as photographers snapped away.
The festival runs on its own precise rhythm, with press conferences and daytime photocalls. The French Riviera often serves as a whimsical backdrop, as when actor Tom Mercer did a handstand for photographers or “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” actor Ethann Isidore took a leap from a podium.
Yet the biggest attention grabbers remain the flashy premieres, where fans crane for even fleeting glimpses of their heroes. Cannes is the place where stars playfully interact with the cameras and, when the films stop, awards prognostications begin as the applause helps carry movies to screens around the world.
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For more coverage of this year’s Cannes Film Festival, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/cannes-film-festival
