Ukraine, Gaza and #MeToo in the spotlight as Cannes Film Festival opens

Ukraine, Gaza and #MeToo in the spotlight as Cannes Film Festival opens

The Cannes Film Festival opens on Tuesday, with stars of world cinema from Juliette Binoche to Tom Cruise expected on the red carpet. Glitz and glamour aside, this year's event highlights the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as sexual harassment in the film industry – as one of France's most famous leading men, Gérard Depardieu, is found guilty of sexual assault.

Gérard Depardieu's sentence to 18 months in prison suspended for sexual assault this Tuesday cast a shadow on the opening of the Cannes Film Festival, dividing festivalgoers and professionals on the actor. Between malaise, indignation and ethical debates, the affair cracks the image of the sacred monster of French cinema, come repeatedly on the Croisette.

In 2025, the Cannes Film Festival remains a mirror of the world, where cinema dialogues with geopolitical crises, between commitment and uncertainty. From Ukraine to Gaza, to the American trade war.