Cannes Film Festival 2016
Ze cineastes et ze film loverz of ze world traveled to ze South of Franssss today for ze most important film festival in ‘istory. (That’s our try at a French accent, can you tell?) Woody Allen’s newest work, Cafe Society, had its world premiere tonight as the festival’s opening film.
- Models walk on the red carpet, during a photo call for the film Trolls at the 69th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Wednesday, May 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Joel Ryan)
- Members of the Jury (fromL) US actress and member of the Jury Kirsten Dunst, French actress / singer and member of the Jury Vanessa Paradis and Italian actress / director and member of the Jury Valeria Golino pose on May 11, 2016 during a photocall ahead of the opening of the 69th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France. (AFP PHOTO / LOIC VENANCELOIC VENANCE/AFP/Getty Images)
- CANNES, FRANCE – MAY 11: Actresses Naomi Watts and Susan Sarandon attend the “Cafe Society” premiere and the Opening Night Gala during the 69th annual Cannes Film Festival at the Palais des Festivals on May 11, 2016 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images)
- CANNES, FRANCE – MAY 11: Model Doutzen Kroes and american actress Eva Longoria attend the “Cafe Society” premiere and the Opening Night Gala during the 69th annual Cannes Film Festival at the Palais des Festivals on May 11, 2016 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images)
- CANNES, FRANCE – MAY 11: Victoria Beckham attends the “Cafe Society” premiere and the Opening Night Gala during the 69th annual Cannes Film Festival at the Palais des Festivals on May 11, 2016 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images)
- British-Thai actress Araya Hargate arrives on May 11, 2016 for the opening ceremony of the 69th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France. / AFP PHOTO / ALBERTO PIZZOLIALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP/Getty Images
- Araya A. Hargate arrives for the screening of the film Cafe Society and the Opening Ceremony at the 69th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Wednesday, May 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Joel Ryan)
- From left actresses Julianne Moore, Susan Sarandon and Naomi Watts pose for photographers as they arrive for the screening of the film Cafe Society and the Opening Ceremony at the 69th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Wednesday, May 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
- Model Bianca Balti poses for photographers on arrival for the screening of the film Cafe Society and the Opening Ceremony at the 69th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Wednesday, May 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Joel Ryan)
- US director Woody Allen (C) poses with (fromL) US actor Corey Stoll, US actress Blake Lively, US actress Kristen Stewart and US actor Jesse Eisenberg as they arrive on May 11, 2016 for the screening of the film “Cafe Society” during the opening ceremony of the 69th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France. / AFP PHOTO / ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULATANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP/Getty Images
- Actress Blake Lively, from left, director Woody Allen, Kristen Stewart and Jesse Eisenberg pose for photographers upon arrival at the screening of the film Cafe Society and the Opening Ceremony at the 69th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Wednesday, May 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Joel Ryan)
- Mexican actor Gael Garcia Bernal arrives on May 11, 2016 for the opening ceremony of the 69th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France. / AFP PHOTO / ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULATANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP/Getty Images
- CANNES, FRANCE – MAY 11: French actress Celine Sallette attends the “Cafe Society” premiere and the Opening Night Gala during the 69th annual Cannes Film Festival at the Palais des Festivals on May 11, 2016 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
- CANNES, FRANCE – MAY 11: French actress Frederique Bel attends the “Cafe Society” premiere and the Opening Night Gala during the 69th annual Cannes Film Festival at the Palais des Festivals on May 11, 2016 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)
- CANNES, FRANCE – MAY 11: Model Bella Hadid attends the “Cafe Society” premiere and the Opening Night Gala during the 69th annual Cannes Film Festival at the Palais des Festivals on May 11, 2016 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images)
- Chinese actress Gong Li poses as she arrives on May 11, 2016 for the opening ceremony of the 69th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France. / AFP PHOTO / ALBERTO PIZZOLIALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP/Getty Images
- Actress Naomi Watts poses for photographers upon arrival for the screening of the film Cafe Society and the Opening Ceremony at the 69th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Wednesday, May 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Joel Ryan)
- Actress Eva Longoria poses for photographers upon arrival for the screening of the film Cafe Society and the Opening Ceremony at the 69th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Wednesday, May 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
- Actors Anna Kendrick, centre left, and Justin Timberlake arrive for the screening of the film film Cafe Society and the Opening Ceremony with producer Jeffrey Katzenberg, far left, at the 69th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Wednesday, May 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
- Jury member, actress Kirsten Dunst arrives on the red carpet for the screening of the film Cafe Society and the Opening Ceremony at the 69th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Wednesday, May 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Joel Ryan)
- US director Woody Allen attends on May 11, 2016 the opening ceremony of the 69th Cannes Film Festival, southern France, before the screening of his film “Cafe Society”. / AFP PHOTO / Valery HACHEVALERY HACHE/AFP/Getty Images
On the Red Carpet, the name of the game was more is more, with actors donning sequins and over-the-top gowns that looked like they were designed in a pastry shop for a Tsarina. Susan Sarandon showing up looking as carefree and “I do not give AF” as she has since she rode into the Grand Canyon in Thelma and Louise, in sunglasses and a suit stolen from Diane Keaton, metaphorically speaking. Woody Allen was his creepy usual self, lurking like the troll that he is next to Amazonian blonde Blake Lively, who stars in his new film.
As The New York Times reported, everyone continued the long media tradition of ignoring the Elephant in the Room — allegations that Allen sexually abused his daughter when she was a child. Earlier in the morning, his son had penned a column in The Hollywood Reporter in which he blamed the media for its complicity in protecting Allen and not addressing the allegations more often.