Cannes (France), 12 May (LaPresse/AP) – The 79th Cannes Film Festival opened today with a tribute to director Peter Jackson, who was awarded an honorary Palme d’Or. He was introduced by actor Elijah Wood, who played Frodo Baggins in Jackson’s fantasy saga, one of many familiar faces on the Cannes red carpet, including Bong Joon Ho, Joan Collins, Heidi Klum and James Franco. “I don’t understand why I’m being given a Palme d’Or. I’m not the Palme d’Or type,” said the New Zealand director. Jackson was then honoured with a performance of the song ‘Get Back’, in reference to his 2021 documentary on The Beatles. The director was seated on the right-hand side of the stage and was humming along to the lyrics. Jane Fonda and the Chinese-Singaporean star Gong Li then officially opened the festival, with Fonda declaring: “Cinema has always been an act of resistance.”
Cannes: the 79th edition gets underway, with an honorary Palme d’Or awarded to Peter Jackson
Cannes (France), 12 May (LaPresse/AP) – The 79th Cannes Film Festival opened today with a tribute to director Peter Jackson, who was awarded an honorary Palme d’Or. He was introduced by actor Elijah Wood, who played Frodo Baggins in Jackson’s fantasy saga, one of many familiar faces on the Cannes red carpet, including Bong Joon Ho, Joan Collins, Heidi Klum and James Franco. “I don’t understand why I’m being given a Palme d’Or. I’m not the Palme d’Or type,” said the New Zealand director. Jackson was then honoured with a performance of the song ‘Get Back’, in reference to his 2021 documentary on The Beatles. The director was seated on the right-hand side of the stage and was humming along to the lyrics. Jane Fonda and the Chinese-Singaporean star Gong Li then officially opened the festival, with Fonda declaring: “Cinema has always been an act of resistance.”
