Opening Ceremony of the Festival de Cannes

The 60th edition of the Cannes Festival was officially declared open this Wednesday evening, followed by the screening of My Blueberry Nights in the presence of director Wong Kar
Wai, and actors Norah Jones and Jude Law. Many stars walked up the red carpet, including Aishwarya Rai, who will preside over the Celebration of Indian cinema on Friday, May 18; Clotilde Courau,
Camera d’Or jury member; and Juliette Binoche, in Cannes for her role in The Flight of the Red Balloon, which is opening the section Un Certain Regard. Also spotted was
Diane Kruger, who, in addition to serving as Master of Ceremonies, is in Cannes for her role in the closing film, The Age of Darkness, by Canadian director Denys Arcand. She
welcomed the Jury President Stephen Frears on stage along with jury members Maggie Cheung, Toni Collette, Maria de Medeiros, Sarah Polley, Michel Piccoli, Marco Bellocchio, Abderrahmane Sissako
and Orhan Pamuk. “Cannes is not a festival museum; it develops and changes with the films, not getting stuck in its past. Tonight, we speak the same language: cinema,”
declared the German actress. “We are celebrating 60 years of grace, elegance, happiness, long shots and infatuations, 60 years of Palme d’Or hopefuls, jealousy and
admiration.”

A further treat for those present in the Palais des Festivals, a peek at David Lynch’s short entitled Absurda, based on the theme of movie theatres, and one of many shorts
making up a special collective film, as well as a multitude of film trailers presenting the films in competition this year. For the formal declaration, the Festival chose a couple representing
wisdom and modernity, experience and grace. Taiwanese actress Shu Qi and Portuguese director Manoel de Oliveira officially launched the 60th edition. 98-year-old de Oliveira paid homage to
“this prestigious festival that is still so young. Viva the cinema!”

Photo Copyright: AFP