Angelina Jolie Shines at Cannes, Celebrates Young Talents and Supports International Cinema

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On the bustling evening of Friday at Cannes Film Festival, the illustrious Oscar winner, Angelina Jolie, graced the event with a special presence. She bestowed the Trophée Chopard upon promising talents Marie Colomb and Finn Bennett. Throughout the elegant dinner gathering, Jolie mused on the potent influence of global cinema during periods of worldwide upheaval.

Jolie expressed her affection for global movies to the glittering crowd, consisting of Cannes jury president Juliette Binoche, along with other jurors such as Halle Berry, Jeremy Strong, Leïla Slimani, and Alba Rohrwacher, in addition to Quentin Tarantino and Carla Bruni. “International cinema allows us to journey to distant lands, peek into intimate experiences, and even on battlefields, we feel a bond and empathy,” she said. “I often reflect on films like ‘My Father’s Shadow’, which is being debuted here at Cannes, as examples of the importance of making international cinema more approachable.

As a movie reviewer, I’m not blind to the fact that many talented artists worldwide face limitations in expressing their creative visions due to lack of freedom and security. Tragically, we’ve lost remarkable individuals like Fatima Hassouna (Gaza), Shaden Gardood (Sudan), and Victoria Amelina (Ukraine) who gave their lives in the pursuit of art. It’s crucial to remember that these courageous artists have significantly contributed to our understanding and growth by sharing their unique stories and experiences, a debt of gratitude we owe them deeply.

On the stunning Carlton Beach, the 25th edition of the Trophée Chopard was unveiled at a dinner event, jointly hosted by Iris Knobloch (President of Cannes Film Festival), Thierry Frémaux (General Delegate) and Caroline Scheufele (Co-president and Artistic Director of Chopard).

Established in 2001, the Trophée Chopard recognizes and celebrates up-and-coming talent in international cinema by annually honoring one female and one male actor with promising careers. Last year’s recipients were Sophie Wilde and Mike Faist, while previous awardees include Marion Cotillard, Diane Kruger, Léa Seydoux, Florence Pugh, Jessie Buckley, Niels Schneider, Jeremy Irvine, and Joe Alwyn. This award often signals further success for the recipients in the future.

So, what is it like to have Jolie as your fairy godmother?

Bennett expressed his admiration for nurturing upcoming actors during a conversation with EbMaster at dinner upon meeting Jolie. He confessed he felt incredibly privileged and fortunate in their encounter. Intrigued by her ability to manage everything, he exclaimed, ‘I can’t help but wonder – how does she do it all? Just look at this chaos! Yet, she remains so composed and collected. I find that truly impressive.’

Likewise, Colomb found himself captivated by Jolie’s humble demeanor as they climbed the renowned red stairs at the Grand Lumiere prior to the Chopard event.

Colomb mentioned, “She’s stunningly beautiful and incredibly attractive. When I saw her, I was taken aback, thinking, ‘Wow! This is amazing, almost unbelievable.’ It’s amusing because when I first met her, she was just an ordinary, kind person. Later, when I see photos or videos of her, my friends would ask me, ‘What on earth is that?’ So, it’s quite mind-blowing but also fascinating at the same time.

Angelina Jolie expressed similar admiration for the upcoming artists. She stated, ‘I believe they’re incredibly courageous in their craft. They make bold decisions and are deeply dedicated, emotional, and open, making them highly promising creators. I think they have a lot to offer,’ Angelina shared with EbMaster. ‘They appear to be very humble, grateful young individuals, who are extremely professional.’

Jolie too passed on the top tip that her godmother, Jacqueline Bissett, offered regarding her career in the industry: “Master French and star in French movies.

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2025-05-17 12:48