The world’s most prestigious, invitation-only film festival in Cannes
Billie Eilish and James Cameron have co-directed a new 3D concert film, Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D), which captures the star’s Manchester show and backstage moments. The project marks Cameron’s first major foray into a concert-film collaboration with a pop artist, expanding the format while staying faithful to Eilish’s stage persona.
Amid Cannes backlash, Xenia Fedorova’s public role in Bolloré’s media empire has intensified scrutiny of Kremlin-linked messaging in France. Sources describe a widening industry response to Bolloré’s influence across Canal+, CNews, Europe 1 and StudioCanal, with lawmakers and press groups calling for greater transparency.
As Cannes opens, Iranian director Asghar Farhadi has described civilian deaths in Iran as extremely cruel and tragic, saying cinema can condemn violence while supporting censorship-free work abroad. His Paris-set Parallel Tales is in competition.
Steven Soderbergh’s Cannes debut of John Lennon: The Last Interview has sparked debate over its use of AI visuals and the film’s focus on Lennon and Yoko Ono, with critics split on how the interview is presented against the era’s context.
Andrey Zvyagintsev has used his Cannes Grand Prix acceptance for Minotaur to appeal directly to Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine, saying millions on both sides "dream" of an end. The director has sent the message to the Kremlin through official channels; the Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has refused to relay it.
Franco-Iranian graphic novelist Marjane Satrapi has died aged 56 after the death of her husband, Mattias Ripa. Relations and cultural figures have paid tribute, with Macron praising Satrapi as a universal voice who transformed an Iranian childhood into a global story. The reporting highlights Persepolis and Satrapi’s influence on countering stereotypes about Iran while noting her activism and anti-regime stance.
Hollywood is redefining stardom as digital creators move from margins to the core of talent rosters. A16 agencies are signing top online talents and integrating creator divisions into film, TV, and brand projects, signaling a structural shift in how stories and stars are built for the screen.