Cannes Film Festival Kicks Off, Greece’s Lanthimos Vying for Palme d’Or

The French Riviera laid out the red carpet on Tuesday to welcome the world’s leading cinema stars and directors for the 77^th Cannes Film Festival.

The first film to air during Cannes is Quentin Dupieux’s comedy “The Second Act” featuring Lea Seydoux and Vincent London.

Superstars, including Meryl Streep who will be awarded the honorary Palme d’Or, Demi Moore, Oliver Stone, Ron Howard, Kevin Costner and George Lucas, will be attending this year’s event which runs through to May 25.

Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos’ latest film ‘Kinds of Kindness’ will be vying for the Palme d’Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

Once again, Athens-born director Yorgos Lanthimos, whose film “Poor Things” clinched four Oscar Awards earlier this year, will be in Cannes.

His latest film project, “Kinds of Kindness”, will be vying for the Palme d’Or, awarded in the past to such iconic movies as “Apocalypse Now”, “Taxi Driver”, “Pulp Fiction”, “The Pianist”, and “Parasite”. Lanthimos has been awarded in Cannes for “The Lobster” (2015), “The Killing of a Sacred Deer” (2017), and “Dogtooth” (2009).

Meanwhile, the country’s National Center of Audiovisual Media and Communication (EKOME) will also be in Cannes this week promoting Greece as a top filming destination and rebates to encourage foreign productions.