Cannes Film Festival Highlights Controversy, Tributes, Key Premieres

The 2025 Cannes Film Festival showcased a mix of cinematic innovation, star power, and serious social issues. Ari Aster's 'Eddington,' a pandemic-era western starring Joaquin Phoenix, exemplifies the festival's trend of films exploring moral and psychological storms, while Scarlett Johansson and Kristen Stewart both made directorial debuts with noteworthy films drawing critical attention. The festival also balanced glamour, highlighted by Tom Cruise's celebrated appearance possibly marking his last 'Mission: Impossible' premiere, with controversy, including the banning of French actor Theo Navarro-Mussy amid sexual assault allegations. Cannes paid tribute to Palestinian journalist Fatima Hassouna, killed in Gaza, underscoring the festival's engagement with global socio-political realities. Additionally, Robert De Niro received an honorary Palme d’Or, delivering a speech touching on democracy and the arts that resonated with current political tensions. Overall, Cannes 2025 set the tone for the upcoming awards season while navigating both the bright and dark moments of the film world.