ALBAWABA - Angelina Jolie returns to Cannes, spotlighting rising talent and unity.
Thanks to the festival's longstanding (and glitzy) sponsor, Chopard, Angelina Jolie is at the Cannes Film Festival on official business rather than with a film on the schedule.
The Oscar winner consented to be this year's Chopard Godmother, which entailed hosting the A-list Trophée Chopard dinner at Carlton Beach on Friday night and awarding trophies to an actor and actress who were selected as the next generation of talent by a jury made up of past winners of the prestigious festival honor. French actress Marie Colomb and rising British star Finn Bennett, who most recently starred opposite Jodie Foster in True Detective: Night Country and in Alex Garland's Warfare, were honored this year.
The awards were given out during the usually glamorous ceremony, which was attended by A-list visitors, members of the competition jury, Chopard co-president and artistic director Caroline Scheufele, Cannes Film Festival president Iris Knobloch, and general delegate Thierry Frémaux. Quentin Tarantino (sitting beside Jolie), Carla Bruni, Halle Berry, Jeremy Strong, and President Juliette Binoche were all present at this year's event, and Friday night was no exception.
US actress, director Angelina Jolie (Photo by Valery HACHE / AFP)
The godmother always makes opening statements, so Jolie made the most of her time by claiming to enjoy foreign films while adhering to her humanitarian work and drawing attention to the heartbreaking tales of women who died in foreign wars and conflicts.
"I adore foreign films. Even on the battlefield, we connect and empathize when we are taken to different places and into private moments. My Father Shadow, which is having its Cannes premiere, comes to mind. Jolie stated, "Everything that can be done to increase accessibility to international film is essential and appreciated." Furthermore, none of us are gullible. We are aware that many artists around the world lack the security and freedom to share their stories, and many have died—such as Victoria Amelina in Ukraine, Shaden Gardood in Sudan, and Fatima Hassouna in Gaza—among the many remarkable artists who ought to be with us right now. We owe a debt of appreciation to everyone who has put their lives in danger to share their experiences and stories because they have enabled us to grow and learn.
Jolie went on to add that connections, not simply glitz, were the reason people came to Cannes. "We are here to connect with each other through international cinema and the chance to be with creative people, not because of carpets, even though they are beautiful," she continued. Being with so many talented artists from around the world, including our awardees tonight, Finn Bennett and Mary Colon, is a great pleasure for me. As up-and-coming artists in international film, you have both received recognition for your exceptional adaptability, genuineness, and empathy. We are grateful for the contributions you have previously made to narrative and film, as well as for all of your future creative endeavors.
TOPSHOT - US actress, director Angelina Jolie (Photo by Bertrand GUAY / AFP)
Bennett thanked Jolie, his "beautiful partner" Anna, and his agency, Bella Wingfield, "whose belief in me really still confounds me," for their acceptance. It is indeed an honor for me to receive this award from such a renowned actor and director. She is also someone who is and will always be on the right side of history because of her efforts in ecological and humanitarian causes.
However, it was anticipated that actress, singer, and former French first lady Carla Bruni would perform a song to cap off the evening. However, even after the musicians were gathered on stage, Bruni left because of the cacophony coming from the adjacent location, which was playing loud music in the middle of a rival bar. Later, she thanked Scheufele for the chance and criticized the location on Instagram.
