PHOTO: AFP

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT DESK

The opening ceremony of the 78th Cannes Film Festival was filled with surprises and unforgettable moments. One of the evening’s highlights was Leonardo DiCaprio presenting the prestigious honorary Palme d’Or for Lifetime Achievement to legendary actor Robert De Niro.

After expressing his gratitude for the festival, De Niro quickly shifted his focus to address former President Trump, who recently proposed imposing a 100% tariff on foreign-made films.

De Niro—celebrated for his iconic roles in classics like Taxi Driver and Raging Bull —used the platform to speak out against US President Donald Trump’s tariffs on foreign-made films. His powerful words were met with a standing ovation from the audience and jury members, who paid tribute to his extraordinary contributions to global cinema.

“Art represents truth and celebrates diversity, which is exactly why it poses a threat to autocrats and fascists,” De Niro said. “America’s cultureless president has placed himself at the helm of one of the country’s leading cultural institutions, slashed funding for the arts, humanities, and education, and now wants to tax international films. But the power of human connection through art is priceless—you can’t put a tariff on that.”

Apart from that major award, acclaimed filmmaker Quentin Tarantino unexpectedly appeared on stage to officially open the festival. As the guest of honour in this year’s Cannes Classics section, which highlights restored and historic films, Tarantino also presented a tribute to the late American director George Sherman. True to his flamboyant style, he capped off his speech by dramatically tossing the microphone to the floor.

A historic moment came with the premiere of Amélie Bonnin’s Leave One Day (Partir un Jour) , which became the first debut feature film ever to open the Cannes Film Festival. The romantic dramedy received an enthusiastic response, earning a standing ovation that lasted over five minutes. The film, based on Bonnin’s César-winning 2023 short of the same name, follows aspiring chef Cécile (played by Juliette Armanet) as she pursues her dream of opening a gourmet restaurant in Paris.

The 2025 Cannes opening night was a star-studded spectacle, with Leonardo DiCaprio, Quentin Tarantino, honoree Robert De Niro, Laurent Lafitte, Mylène Farmer, and Jury President Juliette Binoche all sharing the stage.

Their powerful presence and camaraderie have already become one of the festival’s most talked-about moments online.