The Cannes Film Festival begins on Tuesday with a packed schedule filled with world premieres, famous actors, luxury fashion, and major film competition. The event on the French Riviera remains one of the biggest gatherings in global cinema. Over the next two weeks, directors, actors, producers, and film fans from around the world will arrive in Cannes for screenings and red-carpet events. This year’s festival will feature 22 films competing for the famous Palme d'Or award. The top prize will be presented on May 23. Several respected directors are returning to the competition. Pedro Almodóvar, Hirokazu Kore-eda, and Cristian Mungiu are among the best-known filmmakers competing this year. At the same time, younger directors are also attracting strong attention. Belgian filmmaker Lukas Dhont and French director Léa Mysius are seen as rising talents in international cinema. One film already creating industry excitement is “Hope” by South Korean director Na Hong-jin. The movie stars real-life couple Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander. Another film drawing attention is “Sheep in the Box,” directed by Kore-eda. The project explores themes linked to artificial intelligence and modern technology. The festival jury this year will be led by South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook. Actress Demi Moore is also part of the nine-member jury panel. Unlike some previous years, major Hollywood studios are mostly missing from the festival lineup. Big-budget American action films are not expected to dominate the event this year. In earlier editions, blockbuster movies such as Top Gun: Maverick and the Mission: Impossible franchise helped bring mainstream attention to Cannes. Industry experts say studios are now focusing more on controlled online promotion and social media marketing. Some companies also want to avoid negative reviews from Cannes critics, who are known for their tough reactions. Even without many Hollywood blockbusters, the festival will still welcome major stars. John Travolta is expected to receive strong attention when he presents his directorial debut, “Propeller One-Way Night Coach.” The film tells the story of a young boy during the early years of aviation. Several other international stars are also preparing for red-carpet appearances. Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver will promote “Paper Tiger,” directed by James Gray. Rami Malek stars in “The Man I Love” by director Ira Sachs. Other famous names expected in Cannes include Javier Bardem, Kristen Stewart, Woody Harrelson, and Cate Blanchett. The festival will also honor major film figures. Barbra Streisand and Peter Jackson are set to receive lifetime achievement awards. Russian director Andrey Zvyagintsev will return to Cannes with his new movie “Minotaur.” The filmmaker nearly died from Covid complications before leaving Russia after the Ukraine war began in 2022. His latest film focuses on wealthy Russians facing military conscription during the war. Football will also have a surprising presence at the festival. A documentary about French football legend Eric Cantona will screen during the event. Another movie, “The Match,” revisits the famous 1986 World Cup clash between England and Argentina involving Diego Maradona. Artificial intelligence will become another major talking point during the festival. Director Steven Soderbergh plans to present “John Lennon: The Last Interview.” The documentary uses AI-generated images to recreate moments connected to John Lennon shortly before his death. The use of AI in filmmaking is expected to spark debate among critics and audiences. The festival will also showcase films from Iran, Nigeria, France, and several other countries, once again highlighting Cannes as one of the world’s most important international film events.