66th Cannes film festival begins Wednesday

The 66th Cannes film festival begins on Wednesday. Cannes normally opens with a world premiere, but this year, the curtain raiser is “The Great Gatsby” which has already opened in America.

This year’s poster features Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward who were first honored by Cannes in 1958, the year they married. According to organizers, the Newman/Woodward poster is supposed to evoke a “luminous and tender image of the modern couple”.
The festival features 52 full-length feature films, with 20 contesting the "Palme d'Or". There are no Russian films vying for the top prize, however, this country is represented in other categories.

Thus, in special screenings audiences will be shown a debut feature film by Taisia Igumentseva "Cast off." The producer is acclaimed Russian film director Alexey Uchitel.

Another film - Yuri Bykov’s “Major” – has found its way into the program of the prestigious "Critics’ Week".

The 66th Cannes Film Festival wraps up on May 26.