New Delhi:

Renowned filmmaker Quentin Tarantino amazed everyone as he took to the stage to declare the Cannes Film Festival opening. A massive round of applause followed. Before this, the Pulp Fiction hitmaker attended the red carpet for the opening ceremony and Partir Un Jour (Leave One Day) screening at the cinema with his wife Daniella Tarantino.

The curtains have officially risen on the world’s most glamorous film festival, the French Riviera’s 78th edition of Cannes 2025. From stunning fashion statements to powerful speeches, the first day of the globally renowned festival proved to be completely transformational.

Cinema and rebellion

Legendary actor Robert De Niro took the stage to accept an honorary award and used the moment to throw a metaphorical punch. In a fiery speech, he made sure to be completely raw and didn’t hold back on criticising US President Donald Trump, saying, “America’s philistine president has had himself appointed head of one of America’s premier cultural institutions. He has cut funding and support to the arts, humanities and education. And now he announced a 100 per cent tariff on films made outside the United States. You can’t put a price on connectivity.”

And while the glamour was upheld, jury president Juliette Binoche made it clear this year’s jury isn’t playing it easy. Without taking names, she addressed the elephant in the room about the recent controversies surrounding big names in French cinema, hinting that this trade must deal with its past if it wants a better future. It was a powerful reminder that Cannes isn’t just about films, it’s about accountability too.

A Meta-movie with AI feature

The first day’s major highlight was the most talked about screenings, The Second Act, a French satire that had audiences ovating for nearly four minutes. The film, which pokes fun at everything from fame to family, features big stars like Léa Seydoux and Vincent Lindon, and fun fact: It’s directed with the help of artificial intelligence, a first for Cannes. This opened several discussions surrounding futuristic storytelling. A heartwarming and thoughtful French film, Leave One Day (Partir un jour), by emerging filmmaker Amélie Bonnin, was also shown. The story follows two estranged siblings who reunite for a road trip across France after years of no contact.

Elsewhere, in a truly timeless depiction, cinephiles got a nostalgic treat with a freshly restored version of Charlie Chaplin’s The Gold Rush, celebrating its centennial.

Red Carpet wars

The fashion gods were watching as Indian actress Urvashi Rautela arrived in a multicoloured gown that screamed high drama. But it wasn’t the dress that had the internet talking, it was the quirky parrot-shaped clutch she carried, reportedly worth a whopping Rs 4.68 lakh. While there were concerns about her breaking the newly released dress code guidelines, she was also subjected to merciless trolling online for her ensemble. Beauty influencer Ankush Bahuguna turned many heads as he made history as the first Indian male beauty creator to attend Cannes. He was dressed in a stunning blend of traditional and edgy, rocking an embroidered scarf and a leopard print cape.

Chef Sanjyot Keer didn’t take much time to catch up in style either, keeping things sharp and minimal in an all-black outfit. Eva Longoria grabbed the attention in a gold-and-black couture gown from Tamara Ralph’s SS25 collection, while Heidi Klum was seen in a dazzling Elie Saab dress with a thigh-high slit. Bella Hadid turned out to be the show stopper as she made an appearance in a custom Saint Laurent gown featuring sultry cutouts and high slits, with an all new dramatic blonde hairstyle. Julia Garner, Sean Baker, and Quentin Tarantino, among others, were also spotted on the red carpet.

The Jury’s in

This year’s main competition jury is an international power panel. Headed by acclaimed French actress Juliette Binoche (The English Patient, Chocolat), the jury includes Halle Berry, Oscar-winning American actress and director (Monster’s Ball, Bruised), Dieudo Hamadi, Congolese filmmaker (Downstream to Kinshasa), Hong Sang-soo, South Korean director (The Woman Who Ran, In Water), Payal Kapadia, India’s rising auteur and Grand Prix winner last year (All We Imagine As Light), Carlos Reygadas, Mexican filmmaker (Post Tenebras Lux, Silent Light), Alba Rohrwacher, Italian actress (The Wonders, Happy as Lazzaro), Leïla Slimani, Moroccan-French author (Lullaby), and Jeremy Strong, Emmy-winning American actor (Succession, The Trial of the Chicago 7). This diverse group of voices, backgrounds, and outlooks promises tough but fair decisions.

Day 1 at Cannes 2025 proved to all that this festival is still capable of demanding and getting all the attention it wants. With more powerful speeches, life-changing cinema, and out-of-this-world red carpet moments awaiting, one must remember that this is just the beginning; we’re in for one memorable ride.

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