The Cannes Film Festival officially opened on Tuesday night with a more subdued tone than in previous years, with fewer A-list Hollywood celebrities on the red carpet and politics largely absent from the opening ceremony speeches.
During the gala, the actor handed the director of “The Lord of the Rings” Peter Jacksonone Honorary Palme d’Or for his entire body of work.
Jackson, 64, recalled how he brought a clip from his first film in the saga to Cannes 25 years ago in an attempt to win over an audience skeptical of his decision to film the entire trilogy simultaneously.
The gamble paid off, with the series — critically and commercially successful — winning 17 Oscars and grossing almost $3 billion in revenue.
Jackson did not discuss politics. Last year’s honoree, Hollywood icon Robert De Niro, wore his .
The only political nod came from , an actress and longtime activist, who appeared on stage alongside Gong Li, one of China’s best-known actresses, to declare the festival officially open.
“Jane comes from the West, I come from the East. Tonight, we are here together. This is the magic of Cannes,” said Gong.
Fonda used her time on stage to celebrate cinema as an act of resistance.
“I believe in the power of voices: voices on screen, voices off screen, and definitely voices in the streets, especially now,” she said, to applause. “Let’s celebrate audacity, freedom and the fierce act of creation.”
