Cannes Opens Amid AI Debate and Hollywood Absence

The 2026 edition of the Cannes Film Festival opened on May 12 with international stars gathering on the red carpet, while conversations around artificial intelligence, the absence of major Hollywood studios, and political tensions overshadowed the celebrations.

Actors including Demi Moore and Elijah Wood attended the opening ceremony on the French Riviera. Veteran actor and activist Jane Fonda officially declared the festival open alongside Chinese actor Gong Li. During her speech, Fonda described cinema as “an act of resistance” and said: “We tell the stories... that bring empathy to the marginalized, stories that allow us to feel across difference, stories that let us see that there is an alternative future that is possible.”

Wood reunited on stage with filmmaker Peter Jackson, who received an honorary Palme d'Or for his career. Accepting the award, Jackson modestly remarked that it was a “stunning surprise, miraculous... I am not a Palme d'Or sort of guy.”

The festival’s main competition, beginning May 13, features 22 films competing for the Palme d'Or. Directors such as Pedro Almodovar, Hirokazu Kore-eda and Cristian Mungiu are among the prominent names in this year’s lineup.

Political issues and industry concerns also shaped discussions before the festival. Screenwriter Paul Laverty criticized Hollywood during a press conference, saying: “Isn't it fascinating to see Susan Sarandon, Javier Bardem and Mark Ruffalo blacklisted because of their views in opposing the murder of women and children in Gaza?” He added, “Shame on Hollywood, people who do that.”

Artificial intelligence emerged as another major issue. Cannes director Thierry Fremaux spoke against AI-driven job losses in cinema, stating: “What is certain... is that here in Cannes, we stand with the artists, we stand with the screenwriters and we stand with everyone in these professions, with actors and voice actors alike.”

Despite those concerns, the festival recently signed a sponsorship agreement with Meta, whose AI technology is connected to filmmaker Steven Soderbergh’s new documentary featuring AI-generated footage of John Lennon and Yoko Ono.

Unlike previous years, no major Hollywood studio launched a blockbuster at Cannes this year, continuing a trend also seen at the Berlin International Film Festival. Fremaux expressed hope that the studios would return, while emphasizing that American filmmakers remain strongly represented in the festival lineup.