Cannes 2023; PeopleWorld’s highlights from the first week of the Cannes Film Festival 2023

Sun is shining and the weather is sweet, to quote the bard Finlay Quaye, over in mainland Europe as the stars have come out in force on the French Riviera. Including those that don’t have films showing as part of the Cannes Film Festival 2023, if Naomi Campbell’s appearances are anything to go by.

The first week of the illustrious film festival seems to have gone by very quickly, but the event has already given film fans some highlights, for better or for worse, as the industry event now rolls into its final few days and, with it, closer to the illustrious Palme d’Or for one lucky film playing in competition. Bookies' favourite seems to be Ken Loach’s new film, The Old Oak, though perhaps Wes Anderson’s ensemble work, Asteroid City, may pick up the gong instead.

Then there is all the weird and wonderful films John C McGinley and his esteemed group of jurors will be judging as part of the maverick “Un Certain Regards” category, which previously has helped elevate talents such as Yorgos Lanthimos into the spotlight more - and into the open arms of film distributors looking for that art-house crossover hit much like Dogtooth or The Sacred Killing of a Deer.

But what have been some of our collective highlights after the first week of Cannes Film Festival 2023 and what are we looking forward to come time for the films to earn a general release in theatres worldwide, or streaming in the case of Killers of the Flower Moon.

Johnny Depp, for better or for worse, opens Cannes Film Festival 2023

There was always bound to be controversy when Jeanne du Barry was announced as the opening night film to welcome patrons to Cannes 2023. The film was marked as somewhat of a comeback for Johnny Depp, after his trial against former partner Amber Heard. 

What we got leading into the red stair affair were stories of it’s director spitting on a film critic, Brie Larson being asked if she would attend a film premiere she didn’t need to in her role as a juror, and police forces in Cannes having a zero-tolerance towards protests in the area, despite the ongoing civil unrest pertaining to pension reforms.

As the dust settled, Jeanne du Barry and Depp received a standing ovation that moved him to tears, and the admission that perhaps Hollywood might not want Johnny Depp anymore, but Depp certainly does not need Hollywood either.

Pedro Pascal’s Strange Way of Life gate crashed by sharp dressed men during photo call

The “internet daddy” may not have been on hand during the photo call for Pedro Almodovar’s newest work, Strange Way of Life, but there was still a thirst for Pedro Pascal and for those of us that are a certain age, Ethan Hawke. 

But it was the co-stars of the LGBTQIA+ cowboy short that stole the show during the film’s photo call last week; the striking outfits that the group donned, in comparison to the stylish-yet-understated look Ethan and Almodovar went for, became the talk around the office prompting one Peopleworld writer to ask “who’s that boy?”

Harrison Ford and Michael Douglas received honorary Palme d’Or awards.

Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny was another of the big films that premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, and despite being shown out of competition (not eligible for the Palme d’Or or Grand Prix award) still managed to receive an award by proxy. Screen legend Harrison Ford was awarded an honorary Palme d’Or for his services to film and was the subject of some, quite frankly, thirsty questions from journalists attending the panel discussion.

Michael Douglas was also presented with an honorary Palme d’Or too, for his services to the film industry; but it was another Douglas that stole the show when he arrived for his panel discussion on the red stairs. His daughter with Catherine Zeta-Jones, Carys Zeta Douglas, made an almost ‘debutante’ arrival at Cannes 2023, as did another “nepo baby” in the form of Uma Thurman’s son, Levon Hawke.

Calista Flockhart is alive and well!

… and in an incredibly heart warming moment for the former Ally McBeal, received a thunderous ovation during the premiere of Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny. Not quite the regular on our television sets since the cancellation of Sons and Daughters, our collective conscience at Peopleworld felt better seeing the sometimes maligned actress get a rousing applause as she stood up after being introduced by the film premiere’s compere.

Those who have been following the red stair coverage on Cannes’ official YouTube channel may have also caught both Flockhart and Ford preparing to walk into the theatre for the premiere, and saw the absolute affection the pair still have for one another.

Will Cate Blanchett’s film earn the art-house “Un Certain Regard” award this year?

Could Warwick Thornton’s film, The New Boy, be considered the favourite to pick up the maverick “Un Certain Regard” award? Both of its stars, Cate Blanchett and young star Aswan Reid appeared for their photo call, with Blanchett being particularly protective with the young star.

Reviews for the film have been pretty strong already, with Blanchett taking on the role of a nun who takes in an Aboriginal-boy into her remote monastery in 1940s Australia. Thornton has already won an award at the festival, earning 2009’s Camera d’Or - awarded to first time filmmakers appearing at the festival - for his film Samson and Delilah, while Blanchett has made the news over the weekend for attending a red stair event barefoot, eschewing the de facto rule that women taking to the red carpet must be in heels.

Peopleworld will be continuing its coverage of the 2023 Cannes Film Festival throughout its final week.