A Hollywood-less Cannes Begins

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This year’s Cannes Film Festival feels a bit different. There are surprisingly few Hollywood movies, and a new partnership with Meta is raising eyebrows. You can now see a TikTok creator interviewing stars on the red carpet while wearing Ray-Ban Meta glasses, and Meta has set up a temporary showcase at the Majestic hotel to demonstrate their newest AI and wearable tech.

The festival began this afternoon with a simple press conference introducing this year’s jury: Park Chan-wook (president), Demi Moore, Chloé Zhao, Stellan Skarsgård, Ruth Negga, Laura Wandel, Diego Céspedes, Isaach De Bankolé, and Paul Laverty. When asked how they felt about being chosen for the jury, most spoke passionately about their love for art and film, and expressed their thanks. Ruth Negga described being thrilled, Chloé Zhao said she viewed the opportunity as a learning experience alongside Park Chan-wook, and Demi Moore felt like she was getting a special, exciting role.

Skarsgård was the last to respond, and he expressed his relief at having arrived, joking, “I was so glad I didn’t die before getting here.”

The majority of the questions during the session were aimed at Park and Moore, both of whom appeared mindful of how their responses would be reported online. Park calmly addressed a question about the relationship between art and politics, and whether the two should remain distinct.

He believes art and politics shouldn’t be seen as separate or opposing forces. A political message doesn’t make a piece of art any less valid, and a lack of political commentary shouldn’t disqualify a work either. He emphasized that a powerful political idea needs to be presented skillfully to be considered art, rather than mere propaganda. Ultimately, he feels art and politics are valuable when combined and expressed creatively.

Someone asked Moore if openly discussing politics could harm movies, the film industry, or the festival. She gave a noncommittal response, saying she hoped not. She explained that artistic expression is vital, and self-censorship would stifle creativity – the very source of truth and understanding.

When asked about AI and protecting artists, Moore shared a thoughtful perspective. She explained that trying to fight AI is likely futile, as it’s already here. Instead, she believes it’s more productive to explore ways to collaborate with AI and find a path forward that embraces it.

Someone asked if we’re doing enough to safeguard art, and honestly, I don’t think we are. There’s definitely something appealing about these new technologies, but I truly believe they don’t pose a real threat to genuine artistry. Real art isn’t about technical skill; it comes from something much deeper – from the soul and the spirit of the artist. It’s about the human experience, something a machine can never replicate. It’s that human spark within each of us, both the creators and the audience, that truly matters, and that can’t be manufactured.

When a British journalist asked about progress for women in Hollywood, both on and off screen, they also mentioned that Moore deserved an Oscar for her performance in The Substance. Moore skillfully avoided responding to the Oscar comment. She stated that things are “still a work-in-progress” and, after starting to elaborate, decided to leave it at that, saying, “There’s more I can say, but I think that’s that.”

The press conference took a surprisingly personal turn when someone asked Bill Skarsgård and Julianne Moore if their recent Cannes wins – his for Sentimental Value in 2025, hers for The Substance in 2024 – had given them a boost. Bill, bless his heart, was incredibly candid. He joked that any ‘spring in his step’ was a bit shaky, revealing he’d actually suffered a stroke and was struggling with stairs. It was a genuinely difficult moment, and Julianne’s laughter felt a little awkward as she admitted she couldn’t follow that. She then explained that The Substance had unexpectedly resonated with audiences, especially here at Cannes, and that the overwhelmingly positive reception had been truly life-changing, giving her a real spring in her step. She quickly apologized to Stellan – Bill – for seemingly overshadowing his situation, but it was a raw and unforgettable exchange.

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2026-05-12 20:54