Cannes Film Festival 2025 - Week 1 Recap
The 78th Cannes Film Festival (May 13 - 24th, 2025) began under clear skies, but with a bit of a rocky start as new rules on the fashion were put in place just 1 day ahead of the festival, banning nudity-baring and sheer dresses, voluminous gowns, and those with trains that could hinder flow of traffic on the red carpet or pose a problem for seating within the theatre. The new rules sent the fashionable elite and their stylists running to meet the new criteria, but did little to stifle the creativity of attendees.
As the first week basked in sunshine—a welcome contrast from previous years— here’s a look at the top news of cinematic brilliance and bold fashion statements.
Red Carpet Fashion: Navigating New Guidelines
This year's festival introduced a stricter dress code, prohibiting sheer clothing and voluminous outfits with large trains, aiming to maintain decorum and ensure smooth guest movement. Despite these new rules, several celebrities made bold fashion statements:
Bella Hadid captivated audiences in a daring Saint Laurent gown that subtly challenged the "no nudity" guideline. Later in the week, Bella turned heads wearing a vintage archival John Galliano of silver chain mail that was previously worn by Milla Jovovich in 1997 to the Cannes Film Festival.
Amal Clooney stunned on the red carpet in a vintage Dior gown from the Galliano era with a modest train, sparking discussions about the ambiguity of the new dress code. She arrived without her beau, but who needs George when she looked that good.
Elsa Hosk embraced her ethereal size in a glamorous draped gown with feathers, custom from AZ Couture. We believe she worked together with the team to create this masterpiece, giving both old Hollywood glamour and Grace Kelly vibes.
Dakota Johnson dazzled at the Kering Women in Motion Awards in a custom silver Gucci gown adorned with hundreds of tiny crystals. The sheer, backless dress featured a halter neckline and a form-fitting column silhouette. She continued to tout her elegance with another peony pink strapless fringe dress from Gucci, swirling it on the red carpet for a bit of fun for the pap’s.
Carla Bruni captivated attendees at the Trophée Chopard soirée in a shimmering silver iridescent Vivienne Westwood gown. It was the perfect complement to her understated elegance.
Eva Longoria equally dazzled on the red carpet at The Phoenician Scheme premiere in a stunning dusty rose gown by Tamara Ralph Couture, elegantly capturing the festival's glamour.
Photo of Scarlett Johansson at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival (Photo by AFP)
Directorial Debuts: Women Behind the Camera
Scarlett Johansson made her directorial debut with "Eleanor the Great," which received a six-minute standing ovation. The film, featuring a standout performance by 95-year-old June Squibb, delves into a poignant exploration of friendship, reinvention, and grief with humor and emotional depth.
More Films That Got People Talking
Sentimental Value: Joachim Trier's latest film captivated audiences with its emotional depth, earning a 19-minute standing ovation and positioning itself as a strong contender for awards.
Highest 2 Lowest: Spike Lee's reinterpretation of Kurosawa's "High and Low," starring Denzel Washington, blends moral complexity with cultural commentary, making it a festival highlight.
Die My Love: Lynne Ramsay's adaptation of Ariana Harwicz's novel, featuring Jennifer Lawrence, delves into the psychological horrors of postpartum depression with visceral intensity.
Off-Camera Glamour
Cannes isn’t just about premieres—it’s about presence.
The amfAR Gala returned to the Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc with performances by Duran Duran, Ciara, and Adam Lambert.
Kering’s Women in Motion brought fashion and power together behind the scenes, with many stars stunning throughout the evening.
Jewelry Spotlight: Chopard's Dazzling Presence
Chopard solidified its status as the festival's premier jeweler, unveiling its 2025 Red Carpet Collection. The collection featured intricate pieces, including a watch encircled by openwork diamond lace and a choker showcasing a 129-carat cabochon emerald. Many could be seen wearing Chopard throughout the red carpet arrivals in Cannes. The brand's prominence was further highlighted at the Trophée Chopard dinner, a glamorous event attended by numerous celebrities.
Culinary Highlights: Dining Spots Creating Buzz
Cannes' dining scene was abuzz with several standout restaurants:
La Petite Maison in Palm Beach offered Mediterranean cuisine with a panoramic view, becoming a favorite among festival-goers.
Il Grande, opening just in time for the festival, is the buzzy new Italian restaurant in Palm Beach, channeling ‘60s Riviera glamour with Fellini flair, live music, and perfectly al dente pasta.
La Môme, the Cannes classic on Rue Florian, blends chic terrace vibes with Mediterranean hits and a crowd that always dresses for dinner.
Hotel Belle Plage's rooftop, is a serene setting with Mediterranean dishes, perfect for sunset dining, and is another spot likely to see stars running under the radar.
See our recap on the best places to dine in Cannes coming out soon.
What’s Next
As week two gets underway, there are many welcome appearances such as the arrival of Leonie Hanne (a welcome addition for fashion-lovers), the annual rain fest that drops over Cannes each year, and anticipation of more cinematic premieres and fashion moments adding to the glamour.