By World Licence 
The curtain rose on the 78th Cannes Film Festival with a spectacular opening ceremony that, as it does every year, electrified the Croisette and offered a foretaste of the cinematic magic to come. This Tuesday evening, under azure skies and a spring breeze, the famous Red Steps welcomed the very first guests of honor, officially launching this highly anticipated 2025 edition.
First to walk the red carpet, iconic figures of world cinema attracted everyone’s attention, under the flashes of photographers and the admiration of enthusiasts from around the world. Quentin Tarantino, the iconic director with his inimitable style, appeared with his legendary charisma, greeted by a spontaneous ovation from the audience. At his side, Claude Lelouch, the dean of French cinema, left his mark on the collective memory simply by his presence, a living symbol of a golden era of the seventh art.
Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda, winner of the Palme d’Or in 2018, also graced the steps, accompanied by a notable Asian delegation, marking a strong presence for Japanese cinema this year. American independent director Sean Baker, faithful to his realistic style and poignant narratives, was hailed as one of the great hopes of this edition. Rossy De Palma, Almodóvar’s muse and icon of Iberian cinema, lit up the carpet with her presence and originality, always bucking the trend.
German-Turkish director Fatih Akin also made his mark on the red carpet, recalling the importance of hybrid voices in contemporary cinema. American actress Julia Garner, who has become a rising star of the silver screen in just a few years, has attracted critical attention for her grace and artistic commitment. Julie Gayet, a committed French actress and producer, embodied French elegance with understated elegance.
Italian actor Pierfrancesco Favino, highly anticipated this year for a major role in competition, conquered the stage with his Mediterranean presence, while Eva Longoria, a Cannes regular for several editions, closed this first red carpet with a dazzling gown and infectious energy.
This opening of #Cannes2025 promises to be a perfect blend of glamour, diversity, and cinematic rigor. The official selection, kept secret until its reveal, promises fierce competition between bold works and contrasting worldviews. The Cannes Film Festival thus remains, more than ever, a unique crossroads where all cultures, generations, and forms of artistic expression converge.
Over the coming days, directors, actors, producers, critics, and film buffs will meet, debate, dream, and celebrate. But tonight, the spotlight was on these first steps, on these familiar and emerging faces, who set the tone: #Cannes2025 will be an ode to cinema in all its forms, between memory, commitment, and renewal.
