Cannes Film Festival 2025: Glitz, Films, and Powerful Voices

Intermediate Level | May 17, 2025

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Why Cannes Film Festival 2025 Is a Big Deal

The 78th Cannes Film Festival kicked off on May 13, 2025, with a red carpet full of stars, stunning fashion, and powerful speeches. Held in Cannes, France, the festival opened with the French comedy Leave One Day by Amélie Bonnin and runs through May 24. It features 22 films competing for the famous Palme d’Or award.

This year’s jury is led by French actress Juliette Binoche. The Cannes Film Festival 2025 continues to spotlight both new talent and seasoned filmmakers from around the world.

Highlights from the Red Carpet

Hollywood legend Robert De Niro stole the spotlight, receiving an honorary Palme d’Or for his lifetime contributions to film. In his speech, he criticized U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed 100% tariffs on foreign films and cuts to arts funding, encouraging others to protest these moves.

Fashion also took center stage. Model Bella Hadid impressed in a black Saint Laurent gown, while actress Halle Berry had to make a last-minute change to her dress due to the updated Cannes dress code, which now bans nudity and oversized outfits.

Cannes Film Festival 2025: Star Power and Premieres

Ari Aster’s new film Eddington premiered to critical praise. The film, set in New Mexico during 2020’s social upheaval, stars Pedro Pascal as a small-town mayor and Joaquin Phoenix as a troubled sheriff. Emma Stone and Austin Butler round out the star-studded cast. Critics are calling it “the first truly modern American Western.”

Tom Cruise also turned heads with the premiere of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, possibly his final appearance in the series. The premiere included a live music performance and appearances by co-stars Hayley Atwell and Angela Bassett.

Bono’s Immersive Documentary

Music legend Bono launched his AppleTV+ documentary Bono: Stories of Surrender, based on his memoir. It is the first full-length film available in Apple Immersive Video for Vision Pro. During the screening, Bono criticized U.S. cuts to foreign aid, calling for compassion and smart policy decisions.

Vocabulary

Festival (noun): A public event celebrating films, music, or art.
Example: The Cannes Film Festival is one of the biggest in the world.
Premiere (noun): The first public showing of a film.
Example: The movie had its premiere at Cannes.
Honorary (adjective): Given as a sign of respect, without the usual requirements.
Example: De Niro received an honorary Palme d’Or.
Tariff (noun): A tax placed on imported goods.
Example: The government proposed a new tariff on foreign films.
Dress code (noun): A set of rules about what to wear.
Example: Cannes has a strict dress code for red carpet events.
Immersive (adjective): Making you feel completely involved in something.
Example: The documentary used immersive video technology.
Sheriff (noun): A law officer in a town or county.
Example: Joaquin Phoenix played a sheriff in the new film.
Critic (noun): A person who reviews and judges creative work.
Example: Critics loved the new Western film.
Memoir (noun): A person’s written account of their life.
Example: Bono’s documentary is based on his memoir.
Policy (noun): A plan or rule made by a government or organization.
Example: Bono spoke out against new U.S. foreign aid policies.

Discussion Questions (About the Article)

What makes the Cannes Film Festival 2025 special?
Why did Robert De Niro speak out during his speech?
How did the new dress code affect the red carpet?
What makes Eddington a “modern Western”?
Why is Bono’s documentary unique?

Discussion Questions (About the Topic)

Have you ever watched a film at a festival?
Which actor or director would you love to meet in real life?
What kind of movies do you enjoy the most?
Do you think movies can influence society? Why or why not?
If you made a documentary, what would it be about?

Related Idiom

Steal the spotlight
Meaning: To get all the attention, especially in a positive way.
Example: Robert De Niro stole the spotlight at the Cannes Film Festival.

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This article was inspired by Reuters, May 13–16, 2025.