Forty film festivals in Cannes seen through a photographer’s lens
When Eric Gaillard first photographed the Cannes Film Festival in 1981, it was a smaller, more intimate affair — the kind of place where you could see greats from Hollywood’s Golden Age like Lauren Bacall or Ava Gardner strolling alone on the promenade went or had fun on the beach without bodyguards.
When Gaillard returns for the 40th year, he finds a different beast – bigger, more multicultural, with more restrictions on where photographers can stand to take that viral snap or capture the moment a movie star is caught off guard doing like him shares an intimate smile. strike a silly pose or have a bad hair day.
Kristen Stewart takes off her heels on the red carpet at the 71st Cannes on May 14, 2018
(Reuters)
Woody Harrelson is captured by director Michael Cimino (left) and actors Alexandra Tydings and Jon Seda as they arrive for the screening of their film ‘ Sunchaser’ at the 49th Cannes May 18, 1996
(Reuters)
Diego Maradona plays with a ball while promoting the film ‘Maradona by Kusturica’ at the 61st Cannes Film Festival May 20, 2008
(Reuters)
Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt arrive at the screening of Wolfgang Petersen’s ‘Troy’ May 13, 2004 at the 57th Cannes Film Festival
(Reuters)
Harrison Ford poses with his Palme d’Or honor at the 76th Cannes event on May 19, 2023
(Reuters)
For the 76th edition of the festival, running May 16-27, Cannes’ usual population has tripled to 230,000 people to watch films, mingle with celebrities and – in some cases – compete for the coveted Palme d’Or .
Gaillard, who is retiring after this festival, was on location for Reuters and photographed Michael Douglas pointing at the camera with a cheeky grin and a dressed Harrison Ford accepting an honorary Palme d’Or.
Michael Douglas poses before being awarded the honorary Palme d’Or during the opening ceremony of the 76th Cannes May 16, 2023
(Reuters)
Johnny Depp waves at the conclusion of a photocall for director Jim Jarmusch’s film ‘Dead Man’ at the 48th Films Festival in Cannes May 27, 1995
(Reuters)
On July 10, 2021, people enjoy a cinema screening on the beach at 74th Cannes
(Reuters)
Morgan Freeman poses on his arrival on the red carpet for Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller’s film ‘Sin City’ at the 58th Cannes May 18, 2005
(Reuters)
Director Emmanuelle Bercot poses during a photocall for the out-of-competition film ‘La Tete Haute’ ahead of the opening of the 68th Cannes Films May 13, 2015
(Reuters)
He was there in 1997 when Michael Jackson was in attendance, 2008 when Diego Maradona demonstrated his football tricks, and 2018 when Kristen Stewart kicked off her heels on the red carpet.
Photographers surround Michael Jackson as he arrives for the midnight screening of his short film Ghosts at the 50th Cannes Festival on May 8, 1997
(Reuters)
Elizabeth Taylor pins a red ribbon on Sylvester Stallone’s tuxedo during the Movies for AIDS night at the 46th Cannes, May 20, 1993
(Reuters)
Quentin Tarantino laughs with Uma Thurman as they promote their film ‘ Kill Bill Vol 2’ at the 57th Films Festival in Cannes May 16, 2004
(Reuters)
Pierce Brosnan poses while promoting the James Bond film ‘Die Another Day’ at the 55th Film Festival in Cannes May 18, 2002
(Reuters)
Nicole Kidman signs autographs while promoting the film ‘ The Killing Of A Sacred Deer’ at the 70th Films Festival in Cannes May 22, 2017
(Reuters)
A shot from the 48th edition of the festival in 1995 shows a disarmingly young Johnny Depp, while a black-and-white photo from 1987 shows a tanned, jeweled Liz Taylor with one-time flame George Hamilton.
Actress Penelope Cruz waves as she leaves the screening of Pedro Almodovar’s film ‘ Volver’ at the 59th Cannes Film Festival May 19, 2006
(Reuters)
Elizabeth Taylor and George Hamilton arrive at the 40th Cannes on May 13, 1987
(Reuters)
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivers a video address at the 75th Cannes event on May 17, 2022
(Reuters)
Christopher Lambert looks surprised as Emmanuelle Seigner (left) and Stefania Rocca kiss his cheek during a photocall for Italian director Gabriele Salvatore’s film ‘Nirvana’ at the 50th Cannes Film Festival May 13, 1997
(Reuters)
Workers set up a giant screen of the official poster of the 67th Cannes event, featuring the late actor Marcello Mastroianni, at the Festival Palace on May 12, 2014
(Reuters)
More recent photos show moviegoers wearing masks (the festival was canceled in 2020 due to the Covid pandemic but re-opened with restrictions the following year), an increasing number of women among the phalanx of photographers, and visitors using phones to make their own social -Create media posts.
However, the actual glamor and fascination of the occasion have not changed – neither for the stars nor for the journalists. Cannes is, says Gaillard, “an unbelievable experience”.
