The 78th Cannes Film Festival is set to kick off on Tuesday at a renowned seaside location in France, bringing together a host of elite performers, with Robert De Niro among those honored. The festival will also recognize Ukraine in its own tribute.
Over the next 12 days, the event will showcase films such as Mission: Impossible – Final Calculation, Spike Lee’s The Highest 2 is the Lowest, and Ari Aster’s Eddington. However, the night will begin with accolades for De Niro.
At the opening ceremony, De Niro will receive an Honorary Palme d’Or, celebrating 49 years since he won the festival’s top prize for his role in Taxi Driver.
Cannes had previously launched Gérard Depardieu, one of France’s most celebrated actors, though he was convicted of sexually assaulting two women on a movie set in 2021.
In a significant #MeToo case, Depardieu received an 18-month suspended prison sentence, and he has stated his intention to appeal the decision.
The 76-year-old has long been a familiar face at Cannes.
Geopolitical issues are also taking center stage this year, with screenings of three Ukrainian documentaries. Films include Zelensky, Notre Guerre, and 20 Days in Mariupol by Oscar-winning Mstyslav Chernov.
“This ‘Ukrainian Day’ serves as a reminder of artists, writers, and journalists capturing the narratives of this conflict at the heart of Europe,” the festival stated in a release.
