Cannes 2025 Opens: Payal Kapadia Joins Jury, Robert De Niro Steals Spotlight with Goofy Moment

Cannes 2025 is officially underway, with the 78th edition of the iconic film festival kicking off in style by the French Riviera. The day began with the traditional jury photocall ahead of the red carpet premiere of Amélie Bonnin’s French romance Leave One Day.

This year’s jury gathered at the Palais des Festivals for their first official appearance. Among them was Indian filmmaker Payal Kapadia, whose critically acclaimed film All We Imagine As Light earned the Grand Prix — the second-highest honour — at last year’s Cannes. She joins an illustrious panel that includes Jury President Juliette Binoche, along with Carlos Reygadas, Leïla Slimani, Halle Berry, Jeremy Strong, Dieudo Hamadi, Alba Rohrwacher, and Hong Sang-soo. Together, they’ll decide the winner of the Palme d’Or, the festival’s top prize.

Also spotted on the Riviera was Hollywood legend Robert De Niro, who will be honoured with the prestigious Honorary Palme d’Or during the opening night ceremony. De Niro’s lighthearted antics during the photo session quickly became a crowd favorite, with fans flooding social media to praise the star as a “legend.”

Leonardo DiCaprio is set to present the award to De Niro — a touching gesture given their long-standing collaboration, which began with This Boy’s Life in 1993 and continued most recently with Killers of the Flower Moon, which screened at Cannes in 2023.

Reflecting on the honour, De Niro shared his deep connection with the festival: “I have such close feelings for the Festival de Cannes, especially now when there’s so much in the world pulling us apart. Cannes brings us together — storytellers, filmmakers, fans, and friends. It’s like coming home.”