CANNES, France — Sponsorships have shriveled, the Vanity Fair black-tie bash has been nixed and fewer megayachts are expected to clutter the horizon during the Cannes International Film Festival that opens here today — appropriate for an event that prides itself on the art of filmmaking over fluff.
The opening film, Disney and Pixar’s 3-D animation “Up,” may be more geek than glam, but a formidable roster of festival veterans are up for this year’s Palme d’Or trophy, including Quentin Tarantino, Lars von Trier, Jane Campion and Pedro Almodóvar.
Stars expected to tread the Riviera red carpet here over the coming days include Brad Pitt, Diane Kruger, Willem Dafoe, Rinko Kikuchi, Hilary Swank, Eva Green, Charlotte Gainsbourg and Penélope Cruz. Meanwhile, members of the jury — presided over by French actress Isabelle Huppert — include Robin Wright Penn, Asia Argento, James Gray and Shu Qi.