CANNES, France (AP) 鈥� This year's is at its halfway mark, but it's been an attention-grabbing affair since its start 鈥� from new rules for its red carpets, nerves about potential U.S. tariffs and the return of Tom Cruise.
And that says nothing about the films, as Cannes has become increasingly important to the Oscars' best picture hopefuls. As the festival enters its second week, it's become clear that this year's films are reckoning with that closely resemble current events.
Even in a normal year, Cannes is a lot to keep up with. Here's a handy guide of what's happened so far, what to expect and what it may mean.
What's happened lately at Cannes
Monday brought a pair of surprises thanks to Spike Lee's latest film, 鈥淗ighest 2 Lowest.鈥� The first was an who arrived for the premiere on a whirlwind trip on his only day off from starring in 鈥淥thello鈥� on Broadway.
Another surprise came after the movie's premiere, when Rihanna walked the red carpet with partner A$AP Rocky, who also stars in the film.
Some early standout moments from Cannes
Cannes opened Tuesday with a 49 years after 鈥淭axi Driver鈥� won the festival's top prize, the Palme d'Or. De Niro used his own honorary Palme to assail U.S. President Donald Trump, a frequent target of his criticism.
He also basked in the adoration of some of film's elite, including Leonardo DiCaprio and Quentin Tarantino.
Cannes debuted a complex 4K restoration of 鈥淭he Gold Rush,鈥� , timed to the film's 100th anniversary. 鈥淥ur grandfather would be really proud to see this, a hundred years later, to see all you here and interested in seeing the film,鈥� said Kiera Chaplin to a packed screening.
on Day 2 with the latest 鈥淢ission: Impossible鈥� installment, 鈥淔inal Reckoning.鈥� For such a high-flying franchise, Cruise kept his feet on the ground. That aligned with a recent trend 鈥� Jerry Seinfeld in a bee costume and other big stunts.
On Thursday, news broke that the French actor Th茅o Navarro-Mussy from attending the premiere of the competition entry 鈥淐ase 137鈥� in what's believed to be a first for Navarro-Mussy has been accused of rape in a case that remains on appeal.
On Friday, Bono premiered his documentary, 鈥淏ono: Stories of Surrender." the rock superstar talked about the insights the project has given him (including a deeper appreciation for his late father), his concerns about the dismantling of USAID and his first impression of Pope Leo XIV.
Ari Aster also debuted his COVID-era film
Over the weekend, Richard Linklater's latest, 鈥淣ouvelle Vague,鈥� So too did Jennifer Lawrence's performance in Lynne Ramsay's 鈥淒ie, My Love,鈥� Kristen Stewart, among a spate of actors unveiling their directorial debuts at Cannes this year, premiered 鈥淭he Chronology of Water鈥� in the festival's Un Certain Regard section. With her film, Stewart is trying to that directing is for a select few.
鈥淚t鈥檚 such a fallacy that you need to have an unbelievable tool kit or some kind of credential,鈥� she said. "It really is if you have something to say, then a movie can fall out of you very elegantly.鈥�
鈥淢y Father's Shadow鈥� to play as an official Cannes selection with its debut in the Un Certain Regard section.
鈥淚t means a lot to people back in Nigeria. It means we can exist on these platforms and our stories can exist in these spaces,鈥� said director Akinola Davies Jr. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a testament to talent that鈥檚 around in Nigeria. It鈥檚 a testament to the stories that are there. It鈥檚 a testament to the industry that鈥檚 flourishing.鈥�
What more to expect from the 2025 Cannes Film Festival
AP Film Writer Jake Coyle broke down some of the key things Among the things to watch: any effects of at the world's largest film market. The festival serves as the start of Oscar season and there's a packed field vying for this year's Palme d'Or.
Outside of competition, there's some starry first-time directors along with Stewart: Scarlett Johansson with 鈥淓leanor the Great鈥� and Harris Dickinson with 鈥淯rchin.鈥�
Their films are not in the main competition, but as Brazilian director Kleber Mendon莽a Filho told Coyle about debuting a film at Cannes: 鈥淵ou release a film into that Colosseum-like situation.鈥� Filho, who is in the main competition with 鈥淭he Secret Agent,鈥� noted premiering a movie at the festival is akin to 鈥渁 potential invitation to a beheading.鈥�
New red carpet rules, and how stars are responding
One of the buzziest moves by Cannes this year so far has been its by festivalgoers and so too are 鈥渧oluminous鈥� outfits, in particular those with a large train.
The move to ban nude looks comes amid the 鈥渘aked dress鈥� trend on red carpets, including and many of the outfits after the Oscars.
Cannes press officers said last week the festival 鈥渕ade explicit in its charter certain rules that have long been in effect.鈥�
So how did stars at Cannes respond?
Halle Berry, who is on the festival jury headed by Juliette Binoche, told reporters she would abide by it and had changed her opening night look.
While risque looks have been in short supply, including dresses worn by Heidi Klum, Chinese actor Wan QianHui and others.
What might Cannes call fowl on next?
People on the carpet in bird costumes, perhaps, as happened when at the premiere of 鈥淒ie, My Love.鈥�
At least it didn't spread its wings for the cameras.
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For more coverage of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, visit .
The Associated Press
