Hollywood legends Dame Joan Collins, 92, and Jane Fonda, 88, captivate the red carpet at the 79th Cannes Film Festival opening ceremony at the Palais des Festivals.

Glamorous Red Carpet Arrivals

Dame Joan Collins turns heads in a striking white gown accented by a diamond necklace and black gloves. She arrives alongside her husband, Percy Gibson, 61.

Jane Fonda shines in a floor-length black sequin dress, showcasing her timeless elegance after a six-decade career in film.

Demi Moore, 63, exudes sophistication in a strapless white sequin gown paired with a bold diamond necklace. She serves on the jury for this year’s festival.

Model Poppy Delevingne, 40, impresses in a sheer lace and velvet dress. Maura Higgins, 35, opts for a strapless black-and-white gown featuring a dramatic bow. Heidi Klum, 52, stuns in a sheer nude dress with pink floral details. Caroline Daur, 31, commands attention in a feathered red-and-black strapless gown, while Kimberley Garner appears in a pink floral dress.

Opening Film and Jury

The festival kicks off with The Electric Kiss, a romantic comedy-drama directed by Pierre Salvadori and starring Pio Marmaï, Anaïs Demoustier, Gilles Lellouche, and Vimala Pons.

South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook leads the nine-member jury. Members include Demi Moore, Hamnet director Chloé Zhao, actor Stellan Skarsgård, Ruth Negga, Laura Wandel, Diego Céspedes, Isaach de Bankolé, and Paul Laverty.

Demi Moore Shares Insights

Demi Moore expresses her excitement at the opening press conference. “I feel tremendously honoured to be here,” she states. “It’s such a beautiful experience… surrounded by cinema and the love of cinema.”

Reflecting on her past visits, she adds, “Prior, I had only attended Cannes once, as someone’s plus one. To be sitting here today, I am really tremendously honoured.”

On AI in filmmaking, Moore advocates collaboration: “AI is here, and to fight it is a battle we will lose. We should find ways to work with it.” She emphasizes, “What it can never replace is what true art comes from—the soul and spirit of creators.”

Festival Highlights and Honors

Stars like Gillian Anderson, Michelle Rodriguez, Riley Keough, and Halsey arrive early for the event. Emma Thynn hosts a Vanity Fair lunch on opening day.

Organizers award filmmaker Peter Jackson an honorary Palme d’Or for his visionary work blending blockbusters and auteur films. Jackson calls it “one of the greatest privileges of my career,” recalling his first Cannes visit in 1988 to sell Bad Taste and his 2002 return for The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.

The 79th Cannes Film Festival runs from May 12 to 23.