The 10 most iconic moments from the 78th edition of the Festival de Cannes

Gone are the days when the Cannes Film Festival was ‘solely about cinema’. Over the years, it has evolved into a celebration where film meets fashion, beauty, jewelry, partnerships and world-class hospitality. It’s this fusion of creative worlds that has made Cannes a global symbol of artistic expression and business that is continuously adapting to new audiences. From potential Oscar contenders to attendees returning after years away, we delve into the most iconic moments of this year's edition.

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky’s appearance at a Cannes Film Festival screening

Whether Rihanna’s red carpet appearances are planned or come as a surprise, one thing is certain: her arrival is nothing short of a grand spectacle. Always making her entrance as the final guest, RiRi continues to dazzle audiences worldwide. Who could forget her jaw-dropping Christian Lacroix look at the Fashion Awards in London last December or her unforgettable presence at the recent Met Gala in New York? And now, at the 78th annual Cannes Film Festival, she’s done it again after an eight-year hiatus. On May 19, Rihanna and A$AP Rocky turned heads as they graced the red carpet for the premiere of his film Highest 2 Lowest. Rihanna was dressed in a sky-blue asymmetrical Alaïa gown that beautifully showcased her baby bump, paired with diamond jewelry from Boucheron, including floral ear cuffs and rings, and makeup created by artist Hector Espinal. Meanwhile, A$AP Rocky chose a sleek Saint Laurent suit, topped off with Ray-Ban sunglasses. Together, they truly stole the show. 

Juliette Binoche as Jury of the 78th Festival de Cannes

Celebrating an illustrious 40-year artistic career, French actress Juliette Binoche, known for her debut in André Téchiné’s Rendez-vous, was announced in February as the Jury President. Her appointment was no surprise, given her marvelous contribution to cinema. Exactly four decades after her first appearance on La Croisette, she led a jury panel that included American actress and filmmaker Halle Berry, French-Moroccan writer Leïla Slimani, Indian director and screenwriter Payal Kapadia, Congolese director and producer Dieudo Hamadi, Italian actress Alba Rohrwacher, Korean director Hong Sang-soo, Mexican filmmaker Carlos Reygadas, and American actor Jeremy Strong. At the opening ceremony, Juliette Binoche delivered a tribute to Palestinian photojournalist Fatma Hassona, who lost her life in Gaza on April 16 at the age of 25 due to Israeli bombardment. Binoche honored Hassona’s memory, remarking that "she should have been with us tonight." Hassona’s work is featured in Sepideh Farsi's documentary Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk, which is part of the Acid selection at this year's festival.

While serving as a jury member, Binoche also made a couple of headlines for wearing a haute couture ensemble by Dior. The off-white look featured a silk crepe top with a sophisticated trailing veil and matching trousers, a piece that took two skilled craftsmen 200 hours to create. She complemented this outfit with exquisite diamond dangle earrings by Chopard. Earlier that day, during the jury photocall, Juliette chose a creation from the Jacquemus Fall 2024 collection. She wore a butter yellow jacket with an eye-catching superlative collar paired with wide-leg trousers.

Count on Bella Hadid to deliver a mesmerizing red carpet moment

The Cannes Film Festival may have introduced a ban on transparent "naked" dresses and extravagant designs with long trains, but that didn’t stop Bella Hadid from reaffirming her title as the Queen of Cannes, a title once bestowed upon her by Law Roach. When we think of Bella Hadid’s unforgettable moments at Cannes, it’s impossible not to recall her striking Haute Couture Schiaparelli look with its daring open chest design or the iconic Jean Paul Gaultier Spring 2002 dress she wore to the Annette screening. This year, she made a triumphant return to the Partir Un Jour premiere in a custom black Saint Laurent gown paired with Georgia sandals in crepe satin adorned with rhinestones. Her look was elevated further by Chopard’s jewelry, including diamond rings and bold emerald-colored statement earrings. Makeup artist Nadia Tayeh's signature included a pale nude lip and dramatic black eyeliner, adding an air of timeless elegance. And Bella didn’t stop there. On May 13, while visiting a Chopard billboard, she stunned in an all-black ensemble featuring a Jacquemus SS25 dress, a Turismo bag, Ovalo sunglasses, and Cubisto pumps. She completed the outfit with Chopard diamond earrings and a necklace, proving once again that she continues to dominate the best Cannes dresses of all time. 

All the fashion highlights from Cannes 2025

The festival never fails to deliver unforgettable fashion moments, and this year was no exception. In addition to Bella Hadid and Juliette Binoche, the best-dressed from Cannes 2025 included Natalie Portman in an embellished gown inspired by a classic 1951 Christian Dior design. As a Dior Beauty ambassador, the Oscar-winning actress epitomized elegance on the red carpet, showcasing a flawless look created with Dior Addict Lipstick 463, Dior Backstage Rosy Glow Stick 012 Rosewood, Diorshow Overvolume Mascara, and Diorshow 5 Couleurs 557 Brown Cachemire. Emma Stone exuded timeless sophistication in a custom sleeveless white silk crêpe Louis Vuitton dress, paired with pieces from the Louis Vuitton High Jewelry Awakened Hands, Awakened Minds collection. Juliane Moore brought modern elegance to the event in a one-shouldered creation by Louise Trotter for Bottega Veneta. Meanwhile, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Alexa Chung turned heads in custom Balenciaga, and Alex Consani delivered a breathtaking look in Schiaparelli, Chopard, and YSL Beauty. Alex’s beauty look, crafted by YSL Beauty Global Makeup Artist Sam Visser, featured strikingly defined eyes using the Couture Mini Clutch in shades 800 Over Doré and 710 Over Brun, paired with lips that provided the perfect finishing touch. 

Cannes proved to be the ultimate playground for a bit of menswear experimentation. Alexander Skarsgård sparked conversation—both love and debate—with his daring Saint Laurent boots that added an edge to his ensemble. Jeremy Strong brought a refreshing twist to classic black by opting for a custom Loro Piana outfit with a pop of color. Meanwhile, Akinola Davies Jr. made an appearance at the airport on May 15 styled by Rudy Simba Betty, he paired a Loewe leather jacket with pleated trousers from the Men’s FW25 precollection. And who could miss Pedro Pascal? Everyone’s favorite “boyfriend” was seen wearing head-to-toe a Bottega Veneta airport look. Later, at the Eddington photocall, Pascal kept it simple yet striking in a black muscle tank from Calvin Klein. Lastly, Austin Butler also made waves in a sleek Saint Laurent ensemble, further solidifying Cannes as the ultimate stage for elegance.

Is Jennifer Lawrence’s performance already Oscar-nomination worthy?

Jennifer Lawrence officially touched down in the South of France on May 18 for the premiere of her latest film, Die My Love, where she stars alongside Robert Pattinson. The evening was nothing short of spectacular as the Dior ambassador conquered the red carpet in not one, but two Dior gowns. Her first look was a custom Christian Dior creation, inspired by a 1949 Poulenc dress. Later, she changed to a black gown from Dior’s Fall 2024 couture collection, paired with open-toed black Aquazzura heels. While the fashion choices were the initial buzz of the event, it’s Jennifer’s powerful portrayal of postpartum depression in Die My Love that has everyone talking. Critics are already speculating about a potential Oscar nomination for Lawrence’s performance. Vanity Fair’s chief critic, Richard Lawson, praised her work, saying, “What keeps our attention during the film’s slightly sagging middle, and makes it such bracing viewing, is the marvel of Lawrence’s mesmerizing performance.” Meanwhile, Vogue’s Radhika Seth noted, “Several critics at Cannes have already labeled her as one to watch ahead of the 2026 Oscars.”

Directorial debuts at Cannes 2025 

Kristen Stewart’s directorial debut, The Chronology of Water, received a six and a half minute standing ovation. Adapted from Lidia Yuknavitch’s 2011 memoir, the film delves into Yuknavitch’s recount of the abuse she and her sister endured at the hands of their father. Kristen later shared with The New York Times that “she has had this movie in her head for years. And after so many false starts, financing issues and radical creative re-imaginings, she could barely believe that she had pulled it off.” Adding to the creative excitement, Scarlett Johansson also made her directorial debut with Eleanor the Great, which earned a six minute standing ovation and has already been acquired by Sony Pictures. The film, featuring June Squibb as Eleanor Morgenstein, a 94-year-old woman, explores profound themes of memory, identity, and aging. Another directorial debut at Cannes 2025 was Harris Dickinson’s Urchin, backed by BBC Films. The film, which received a five-minute standing ovation, stars Frank Dillane in a powerful portrayal of homelessness and mental health on the streets of London.

Angelina Jolie returns to Cannes Film Festival after 14 years 

After a fourteen-year absence, the actress, philanthropist, and Atelier Jolie founder attended the premiere of Eddington, a film featuring Emma Stone, Pedro Pascal, Joaquin Phoenix, and Austin Butler. Angelina Jolie hit the red carpet in a Brunello Cucinelli FW25 ready-to-wear ensemble, sandals by Bulgarian shoemaker INGILIZ, and accessorized with Chopard jewelry, including a diamond necklace with a pear-shaped center stone and matching earrings. Jolie was also honored with the prestigious title of Godmother and had the privilege of presenting the 25th edition of the Trophée Chopard to rising stars Marie Colomb and Finn Bennett. The Trophée Chopard dinner, held on Friday, May 16, at Carlton Beach, was hosted by Cannes Film Festival executives Iris Knobloch and Thierry Frémaux, alongside Chopard co-president and artistic director Caroline Scheufele. For the dinner, Jolie wore an asymmetrical white gown from Haider Ackermann's Tom Ford collection. Her makeup, created by Raoul Alejandre, featured a black cat-eye and soft pink lips, achieved using Tom Ford Beauty products.

Robert De Niro awarded honorary Palme d'Or

The legendary Robert De Niro was honored with an honorary Palme d'Or for lifetime achievement, marking 14 years since he last presided over the Jury. The award was presented by Leonardo DiCaprio, and the evening took a powerful turn when De Niro delivered a heartfelt speech addressing the challenges facing democracy in the United States. “In my country, we’re fighting like hell for the democracy we once took for granted. And that affects all of us here because the arts are democratic,” De Niro passionately stated. He went on to emphasize the unifying power of art, saying, “Art is inclusive. It brings people together, like tonight. Art looks for truth, art embraces diversity, and that’s why art is a threat—that’s why we are a threat—to autocrats and fascists.”

Meanwhile, two-time Oscar winner Denzel Washington experienced his own unforgettable moment at Cannes. Attending the festival for the first time, Washington was surprised with an honorary Palme d’Or during the premiere of Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest. The honor was presented by Spike Lee himself, alongside festival chiefs Thierry Frémaux and Iris Knobloch. 

Sentimental Value’s 19-minute standing ovation

Sentimental Value, directed by Norwegian filmmaker Joachim Trier, received a 19-minute standing ovation—the third longest in Cannes history, just behind Pan’s Labyrinth and Fahrenheit 9/11. While such an ovation doesn’t guarantee the Palme d’Or, its touching family drama story could certainly place the film in the spotlight as a strong contender. The film portrays complex family dynamics, with Renate Reinsve starring as Nora, an actress who reconnects with her father Gustav (played by Stellan Skarsgård), a once-renowned director. Gustav offers Nora a pivotal role in his comeback film, but when she declines, the part is handed to a young Hollywood star, played by Elle Fanning. The story unfolds with emotional depth, showcasing the intricate relationships between Nora, her sister Agnes (Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas), and their father.

Of course, it wouldn’t be Cannes without some spectacular red-carpet moments. Elle Fanning wore a strapless custom Armani Privé gown, while Renate Reinsve arrived at the premiere in a custom lilac silk Louis Vuitton satin dress featuring a V-neckline, column skirt, and pleated peplum. Her look was elevated by exquisite Louis Vuitton Haute Joaillerie pieces, including the Elegance necklace adorned with nine 4.5-carat Monogram Star LV-cut diamonds and the Perception bracelet with a 1.23-carat diamond.

Caroline’s Couture at Cannes 2025

Caroline Scheufele’s penchant for craftsmanship continues with her latest Caroline's Couture collection designed to enhance the jewelry creations of Chopard. Unveiled during the 78th Cannes International Film Festival on the enchanting Chopard Rooftop at the Hôtel Martinez, the collection featured black and sky blue deep necklines gowns, gold-beaded skirts, wide-neck embellished suits, all brought to life with intricate embroidery crafted by skilled artisans from around the globe. The fabrics used for these masterpieces? Exclusively developed to ensure unmatched elegance and sophistication. For the first time ever, Caroline’s Couture introduced a line of Couture accessories. Among them is the Ice-Cube clutch, crafted from soft lambskin and adorned with embroidery in striking hues of black, night blue, and sky aqua. Another standout is an evening clutch entirely fashioned from gold-plated metal and featuring hundreds of delicate ice cubes. As the ultimate highlight, a one-of-a-kind bag has been created in collaboration with Chopard’s artisans. To elevate the collection even further, Caroline has once again teamed up with the hat designer Philip Treacy. Together, they’ve created a series of hats inspired by and paying tribute to the beauty of the skies.