Stars descend on the carpet as Cannes Film Festival 2026 opens without Hollywood backing

Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.

In the main Cannes competition, which begins Wednesday, 22 films are vying for the prestigious Palme d'Or prize for best film. As usual in the build-up to the festival, off-screen events have dominated conversation, from the impact of AI on jobs, Hollywood's decision to ghost the event, to the under