The 78th Cannes Film Festival is currently underway, bringing together legendary figures from Hollywood like Tom Cruise and Denzel Washington. The event unfolds amidst underlying concerns for the film industry, particularly regarding declining attendance and the recent announcement of potential U.S. tariffs on foreign films.
Star power is certainly high. Tom Cruise is set to debut what's billed as the final installment in his action-packed Mission: Impossible saga. Many attendees are also hoping to replicate the journey of last year's Palme d'Or winner, *Anora*, which went on to achieve significant success at the Oscars.
Adding to the esteemed lineup, Robert De Niro is being honored with a lifetime achievement award. This year's festival also sees familiar faces like Scarlett Johansson, Kristen Stewart, and Harris Dickinson stepping behind the camera, presenting films in the festival's smaller competitive sections.
Just days before the festival began, the global film community was surprised by U.S. President Donald Trump's statement proposing a 100% tariff on movies produced outside the United States. This announcement caused considerable uncertainty among studio executives regarding its potential implementation and impact.
While these tariff concerns have been a dominant topic in private discussions at Cannes, they haven't overshadowed the official festival proceedings and announcements. As one European bureau chief for The Hollywood Reporter noted, while "nobody wants to be talking about tariffs and Trump here," it's definitely a major subject within industry circles.
The festival officially commenced on Tuesday evening. The decisions of this year's jury, led by France's Juliette Binoche and featuring actress Halle Berry among its members, are anticipated with great interest.
The Palme d'Or, Cannes' highest honor, has increasingly become a predictor of awards season success. Following its win in 2024, *Anora* secured five Oscars. Similarly, the 2023 winner, *Anatomy of a Fall*, later won an Academy Award, and the 2019 recipient, *Parasite*, made history as the first non-English-language film to win the Best Picture Oscar.
Among the films vying for the top prize this year is U.S. director Wes Anderson's latest work, *The Phoenician Scheme*. It competes alongside independent features such as Joachim Trier’s *Sentimental Value* and Julia Ducurnau’s *Alpha*.
Screenings outside the main competition include the new *Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning* and Spike Lee’s *Highest 2 Lowest*, starring Denzel Washington.
Beyond the usual industry buzz, global political realities are also reflected in the festival's programming. A dedicated "Ukraine Day" will feature three films focusing on the ongoing conflict there.
Additionally, the documentary *Put Your Soul On Your Hand And Walk*, which tells the story of Palestinian photojournalist Fatma Hassona who was killed in Gaza shortly after the film's selection was announced, is being shown as part of the ACID program and all its screenings are reportedly sold out.
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