Bangladesh marks a milestone with its first official selection at Cannes this year. Notably, Adnan Al Rajeev’s film ‘Ali’ is featured in the Short Film section.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT DESK

The 78th Cannes Film Festival kicked off yesterday and has once again transformed the French Riviera into a global celebration of cinema. The jury panel this year is led by French actress Juliette Binoche, joined by Halle Berry, among others.

Filmmakers and industry professionals gather at Cannes to celebrate global storytelling, but this year’s festival faces uncertainty due to President Trump’s proposed 100% tariffs on foreign films, raising concerns about US distribution for Cannes selections.

This time around, Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme entered the competition alongside indie titles like Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value and Julia Ducournau’s Alpha . Out-of-competition highlights include Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning and Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest , starring Denzel Washington.

Robert De Niro was honoured with the Palme d’Or for lifetime achievement at the opening ceremony, with Leonardo DiCaprio presenting it to him. Other notable attendees include Jennifer Lawrence, Joaquin Phoenix, Denzel Washington, and Emma Stone.

Scarlett Johansson, Kristen Stewart, and Harris Dickinson will debut as directors in Un Certain Regard with Eleanor the Great , The Chronology of Water , and Urchin , respectively, bringing fresh visions from familiar faces.

The Gaza conflict will echo at Cannes through films like Sepideh Farsi’s Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk , which follows slain Gazan photojournalist Fatima Hassouna. Additionally, Once Upon a Time in Gaza , directed by Arab and Tarzan Nasser, is set to compete in the Un Certain Regard section, highlighting the human cost of the conflict.

This year’s competition for the Palme d’Or is fierce, with 22 films vying for the top prize. Notable entries include The Young Mothers’ Home by the Dardenne brothers, The History of Sound by Oliver Hermanus, and Iranian director Jafar Panahi’s It Was Just an Accident . Themes range from historical dramas to contemporary social issues, reflecting the festival’s diverse selection.

Bangladesh marks a milestone with its first official selection at Cannes this year. Adnan Al Rajeev’s short film Ali , co-produced by Tanveer Hossain of Bangladesh and Kristine De Leon of the Philippines, is featured in the Short Film section. The 15-minute film’s inclusion signifies a growing recognition of Bangladeshi cinema on the international stage.