The 77th Cannes Film Festival is set to open on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, amidst a backdrop of heightened anticipation and emerging controversies. This year, the buildup to the festival has been somewhat subdued due to rumors of significant #MeToo allegations against 10 industry figures, which may be revealed coinciding with the festival's commencement. Additionally, there is talk of a potential strike by festival workers, which could impact the event. In response to these challenges, the event organizers have enlisted a crisis management team as per reports by the French daily Le Figaro.
Iranian filmmaker Mohammed Rasoulof, whose film "The Seed of the Sacred Fig" is set to premiere in competition at the festival, has reportedly fled Iran following a court sentence of eight years in prison and flogging. The film criticizes the Iranian regime.
Despite these issues, the festival is also a platform for major film debuts, including Francis Ford Coppola’s "Megalopolis" and "Kinds of Kindness," featuring Emma Stone and directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, following their collaboration on "Poor Things."
As the festival nears, audiences can watch live streams from Cannes to catch the unfolding events in real-time.