The 79th Cannes Film Festival opens on Tuesday with American actor Jane Fonda and Chinese star Gong Li presenting the opening ceremony on the French Riviera. The event draws a celebrity-studded audience as the festival begins its official program.
In addition to Fonda and Gong Li’s appearance at the opening, the festival also recognizes prominent industry figures. New Zealand director Peter Jackson, known for directing the “Lord of the Rings” film trilogy, receives an honorary Palme d’Or award for his career during the opening festivities.
Together, the opening-day ceremony highlights a mix of international film talent, pairing well-known Hollywood and Chinese screen stars with a major filmmaker from the Pacific region. The reported events mark the start of the 2026 festival and set the tone for the Cannes lineup as it moves into its competition and screenings schedule.
