Cannes opens with Robert De Niro getting honorary Palme d'Or

Twenty-two films will vie for Cannes' top prize, the Palme d'Or, to be presented on May 24

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The 78th Cannes Film Festival opened on Tuesday with expectations running high for what could be a banner edition. All of the ingredients — an absurd number of stars, top-tier filmmakers, political intrigue—seem to be lined up for the French Riviera spectacular.

Over the next 12 days, Cannes will play host to megawatt premieres including those of “Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning,” Spike Lee's “Highest 2 Lowest” and Ari Aster's “Eddington.” Things get underway on Tuesday with the unveiling of Juliette Binoche's jury, a three-film tribute to Ukraine and the opening night film, Amélie Bonnin's French romance “Leave One Day.”

At the festival’s opening ceremony, Robert De Niro received an honorary Palme d'Or, 49 years after “Taxi Driver” won Cannes' top prize. Cannes is coming off a 2024 festival that produced a number of eventual Oscar contenders, including “Emilia Pérez,” “The Substance,” “Flow” and the best picture winner, “Anora.” Asked if he’s feeling the pressure this time around, festival director Thierry Frémaux said the only kind of pressure he believes in is in beer. (Beer on tap in France is “bière a la pression.”)