Cannes 2025: Opening Night Kicks Off With Payal Kapadia’s Jury Debut and Robert De Niro’s Honorary Palme d’Or
Robert De Niro calls out political censorship, Payal Kapadia makes history, and India’s presence looms large at a strikingly global festival launch.
The 78th Cannes Film Festival opened on May 13, and set a high bar for the week ahead, marked by Robert De Niro’s heartfelt tribute to artistic freedom, Payal Kapadia’s historic moment as a jury member, and a red carpet that came with a side of fashion and political undertones.
Hollywood legend Robert De Niro was awarded the Honorary Palme d’Or for lifetime achievement in a deeply moving ceremony. Presented by longtime collaborator Leonardo DiCaprio, the award saw the 81-year-old actor embrace his protégé onstage before launching into a powerful speech.
De Niro didn’t shy away from calling out U.S. President Donald Trump’s cuts to arts and education and the imposition of steep tariffs on foreign films. “Our president cut funding to arts and education. Now he’s taxing foreign films 100 per cent. Let that sink in,” he said, ending with the defiant rallying cry: "Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité." Unsurprisingly, his words drew a standing ovation — an reminder of Cannes’ continued commitment to freedom of expression.
India, too, had a significant role to play on opening day. Payal Kapadia, fresh off her Grand Prix win for All We Imagine As Light, made her first appearance as a Cannes jury member, marking a historic moment for Indian independent cinema. She was joined by a strong Indian contingent expected to make appearances over the coming days, including Sharmila Tagore, Karan Johar, Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khatter and Neeraj Ghaywan.
Fashion was, as always, part of the narrative. Model Bella Hadid stunned in a custom black Saint Laurent gown, while actress Urvashi Rautela grabbed headlines with her vibrant, structured gown and a crystal-studded parrot clutch reportedly worth ₹4.68 lakh — a nod to the fact that Cannes is as much about spectacle as it is about cinema.
The festival opened with a surprise mic-drop from Quentin Tarantino, who unofficially declared Cannes 2025 open. In other news, actor Alia Bhatt’s much-anticipated debut was delayed amid ongoing geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan. Scheduled to walk the red carpet on May 13 as L'Oréal Paris ambassador, Bhatt chose to skip the opening ceremony, though an official update on her appearance is expected soon.
As the festival continues through May 24, the festival promises to be a landmark edition for world cinema.