Tilda Swinton, Selena Gomez swap zombies for Cannes red carpet
72nd Cannes Film Festival - Photocall for the film "The Dead Don't Die" in competition - Cannes, France, May 15, 2019. Director Jim Jarmusch and cast members Selena Gomez and Tilda Swinton pose. REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier
CANNES, France (Reuters) - Pop royalty mingled with screen stars at Cannes on Tuesday, with the eclectic cast of zombie movie "The Dead Don't Die" leading the glamor on the red carpet as the film festival got underway on the French Riviera.
British actress Tilda Swinton, in a sparkling silver gown, singer Selena Gomez and actors Bill Murray and Adam Driver made their grand entrance to the first screening and opening gala alongside the film's director Jim Jarmusch.
72nd Cannes Film Festival - News conference for the film "The Dead Don't Die" in competition - Cannes, France, May 15, 2019. Cast member Selena Gomez speaks. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard
The acerbic comic romp set in small-town America is set to be one of the highlights of the competition in Cannes, alongside Quentin Tarantino's hotly anticipated return to the Croisette with an ode to Hollywood based on his memories of the industry.
They will vie for the top Palme D'Or prize alongside newcomers such as Mati Diop, with her film "Atlantics", set in the suburbs of Dakar, Senegal.
Although Netflix productions are conspicuously absent from the line-up - as a stand-off with Cannes over selection rules rumbles on - the streaming company loomed large over the first day of festivities.
72nd Cannes Film Festival - News conference for the film "The Dead Don't Die" in competition - Cannes, France, May 15, 2019. Cast member Tilda Swinton attends the news conference. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard
"Cinema is about being together," Edouard Baer, a French actor and the opening night master of ceremonies, told assembled stars. "Go out, rather than staying at home watching Netflix with a pizza."
Cannes jury president Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, the Mexican director of "Birdman" and "The Revenant", stressed his support for movie theaters earlier in the day and at the gala.
"That communal experience is very beautiful," he said.
72nd Cannes Film Festival - News conference for the film "The Dead Don't Die" in competition - Cannes, France, May 15, 2019. Director Jim Jarmusch and cast members Tilda Swinton, Selena Gomez and Bill Murray attend the news conference. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard
Cannes organizers also paid tribute to late Belgian-born filmmaker Agnes Varda, a pioneering female director and influential force of the New Wave movement and French cinema.
Varda, who died in March aged 90, features on Cannes' official posting, crouched on the back of a crew member as she tried to grab a shot. A clip of her 1962 "Cleo from 5 to 7" was screened at the ceremony.
"The Dead Don't Die" was also being shown at cinemas across France on Tuesday evening.
72nd Cannes Film Festival - Opening ceremony and screening of the film "The Dead Don't Die" in competition - Red Carpet arrivals - Cannes, France, May 14, 2019. Director Jim Jarmusch poses with cast members Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, Sara Driver. REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier
(Additional reporting and writing by Sarah White; Editing by Frances Kerry)
72nd Cannes Film Festival - Opening ceremony and screening of the film "The Dead Don't Die" in competition - Red Carpet arrivals - Cannes, France, May 14, 2019. Director Jim Jarmusch poses with cast members Chloe Sevigny, Sara Driver, Selena Gomez, Adam Driver, Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton. REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier72nd Cannes Film Festival - Opening ceremony and screening of the film "The Dead Don't Die" in competition - Red Carpet arrivals - Cannes, France, May 14, 2019. Director Jim Jarmusch poses with cast members Chloe Sevigny, Adam Driver, Sara Driver, Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe72nd Cannes Film Festival - Opening ceremony and screening of the film "The Dead Don't Die" in competition - Red Carpet arrivals - Cannes, France, May 14, 2019. Director Jim Jarmusch poses with cast members Chloe Sevigny, Selena Gomez, Adam Driver, Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau72nd Cannes Film Festival - Opening ceremony and screening of the film "The Dead Don't Die" in competition - Red Carpet arrivals - Cannes, France, May 14, 2019. Director Jim Jarmusch poses with cast members Chloe Sevigny, Selena Gomez, Adam Driver, Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton. REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier72nd Cannes Film Festival - Opening ceremony and screening of the film "The Dead Don't Die" in competition - Red Carpet arrivals - Cannes, France, May 14, 2019. Director Jim Jarmusch and cast members Chloe Sevigny, Adam Driver, Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, and Luka Sabat poseREUTERS/Eric Gaillard
Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
