Cannes 2023: Festival opens with Maïwenn’s Jeanne du Barry

Cannes Film Festival 2023 began with a dazzling opening ceremony on 16 May, fronted by actress Chiara Mastroianni at the Grand Théâtre Lumière. Opening the 76th edition of the festival, Mastroianni welcomed the Feature Film jury to the stage: Moroccan director Maryam Touzani, the French actor Denis Ménochet, the British-Zambian screenwriter and director Rungano Nyoni, the American actress and director Brie Larson, the American actor Paul Dano, the Afghan writer Atiq Rahimi, the Argentine director Damián Szifron and the French director Julia Ducournau, who make up the jury presided over by the Swedish director Ruben Östlund.

The Californian group Gabriels performed “Stand by Me”, before Michael Douglas was presented with an honorary Palme d’Or for his cinematic achievements. Uma Thurman, who presented Douglas with the award, said: “The Honorary Palme d’or is attributed to those who have had a deep and lasting impact on cinema. I don’t see how anyone other than Michael Douglas could be more deserving. A unique titan, an eternal star and a radiant artist.”

Along with Catherine Deneuve, also honoured by the festival in 2023, Douglas declared the event open for another year.

The ceremony was followed by a screening of Maïwenn’s Jeanne du Barry, released in French cinemas that same day.

The Awards Ceremony will take place on Saturday 27 May at 8:30pm, broadcast internationally on Brut. Following the Ceremony there will be a screening of Peter Sohn’s Elemental in the Grand Théâtre Lumière.