Demi Moore just shut down the red carpet at the 79th Cannes Film Festival. She arrived for the opening ceremony on May 12 as the festival makes a massive shift away from big Hollywood movies. This year, the organizers are focusing on international art films because everyone in the industry is worried about how artificial intelligence is changing cinema. Moore looked incredible in a custom gown as she joined the jury to start the event.
Her dress was a strapless Jacquemus piece from the Fall/Winter 2026 collection. It had primary-colored polka dots and pom-poms that moved as she walked. But the jewelry was the real story. She wore 263.34 total carats of Chopard diamonds, including a massive 226-carat bib necklace. According to a report from Harper’s Bazaar, her stylist Brad Goreski picked the funfetti-style look to make a big statement for her return to the jury.
Alia Bhatt also showed up in a custom Tamara Ralph gown. It was a peach color and hugged her figure perfectly. She wore a necklace with 168.27 carats of pink coral and rare diamonds. The vibe on the carpet was very different this year. The festival is moving toward auteur-driven stories instead of the usual superhero sequels. This shift away from blockbusters comes as the movie world deals with huge entertainment industry changes and new technology threats.
During the opening press conference, things got a bit serious. South Korean director and Jury President Park Chan-wook talked about the role of movies in the world today. He told reporters on Tuesday that he does not think politics and art should be divided. This was a direct response to other festivals that tried to stay neutral lately. As Hindustan Times noted, his comments set a defiant tone for the rest of the week.
How the Cannes Focus on International Auteurs Challenges Hollywood’s AI Era
This move by Cannes to prioritize directors like Park Chan-wook over Marvel-style premieres marks a turning point for the industry. For years, the festival was a launchpad for summer blockbusters. Now, by leaning into international cinema, it is creating a safe space for art while Hollywood studios struggle with AI labor disputes. This is the most political the festival has felt in a long time. It shows that the global film community is ready to protect storytelling by highlighting high-fashion and high-intellect moments that a computer simply cannot replicate.