Cannes 2026 Opens With Jane Fonda, Gong Li As Film Industry Emphasises Resistance And Creativity
American actress Jane Fonda and Chinese star Gong Li presented the opening ceremony, while Peter Jackson received an honorary Palme d'Or for his career.
The 79th Cannes Film Festival commenced on Tuesday on the French Riviera with a ceremony presented by American actress Jane Fonda and Chinese star Gong Li. The event took place in front of a celebrity-studded audience, marking the start of the annual industry gathering with a focus on the enduring power of cinema.
During the proceedings, Fonda, a vocal critic of US President Donald Trump and long-standing campaigner, characterised the industry as a platform for dissent. She described cinema as an act of resistance, emphasising the importance of voices both on and off the screen in the current political climate. Fonda stated that the medium allows stories to bring empathy to the marginalised and offers an alternative future, calling for a celebration of audacity and the fierce act of creation.
New Zealand director Peter Jackson was honoured with an honorary Palme d'Or for his career, an award presented to him by American actor Elijah Wood. Wood reflected on his own career trajectory, noting that his life had been divided into periods before and after being cast as Frodo Baggins in the Lord of the Rings trilogy at the age of 18.
Jackson, 64, accepted the award with typical self-deprecation, describing the recognition as a stunning surprise. He joked that receiving the honour was the festival's way of apologising for not giving his debut film, Bad Taste, the top prize. The director noted that while he is not typically a Palme d'Or recipient, the award served as a miraculous acknowledgment of his body of work.
The ceremony highlighted the intersection of art and activism, with Fonda's remarks underscoring the role of film in challenging the status quo. Her comments, delivered to loud applause, framed the festival not merely as a celebration of movies but as a reaffirmation of creative freedom against political constraints.
The opening of the 79th edition concluded with these powerful statements, setting a tone that prioritised institutional values of artistic expression over commercial performance. The event remains a significant moment in the global film calendar, drawing attention to the political dimensions of cultural production.
