By Mimosa Spencer

CANNES, France (Reuters) – The Cannes Film Festival opened on Tuesday with packed red carpet arrivals, a star-studded ceremony and a call from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy for the cinema world to speak out against war.

“We need a new (Charlie) Chaplin to prove that today’s cinema is not silent,” said Zelenskiy, referring to Charlie Chaplin’s satire of Adolf Hitler at the start of World War II. world in 1939.

“We must be victorious. We need cinema to guarantee that end, that every time it will be on the side of freedom,” the Ukrainian leader said via live video link from Kyiv during the opening ceremony, marking a dark note in otherwise festive debates.

Event organizers had rolled out the red carpet earlier today as movie stars, festival-goers and oglers gathered for the 75th anniversary event, bringing buzz and glamor back to the resort town of the Côte d’Azur, as well as discussions on the role of cinema at the time. of conflict.

The festival kicked off with a screening of Michel Hazanavicius’ zombie film “Final Cut,” which was joined by cast members Berenice Bejo and Romain Duris on the red carpet.

During the opening ceremony, festival president Pierre Lescure presented Forest Whitaker with an honorary palme d’or for all of his work, prompting a standing ovation.

“A Palme d’honneur to the artist, to the filmmaker, to the ambassador of UNESCO, quite simply, to a citizen of the world”, declared Lescure.

The actor’s production company presents “For the Sake of Peace”, a documentary about the war in South Sudan.

The world’s largest film festival runs from May 17-28 and includes screenings of Hollywood titles including Tom Cruise’s “Top Gun: Maverick” and Baz Luhrmann’s musical drama “Elvis.”

(Reporting by Mimosa Spencer; Editing by Sandra Maler)