IN PHOTOS | Cannes Film Festival opening

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The 79th Cannes Film Festival has begun, kicking off nearly two weeks of French Riviera frenzy with filmmakers and stars walking the red carpet for the opening ceremony and the screening of the film The Electric Kiss.

The festival includes 12 days of nonstop world premieres before culminating May 23 with the presentation of the Palme d’Or, its top honour and one of the film industry’s most prestigious awards.

Meet this year’s Cannes ⁠jury, headed by South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook. From left: Stellan Skarsgård, Diego Céspedes, Laura Wandel, Chan-wook, Demi Moore, Chloé Zhao, Isaach de Bankolé and Ruth Negga.

Eight people in formal wear on the red carpet outside with photographers behind them.

(Andreea Alexandru/Invision/The Associated Press)

Madeleine Baudot, from left, Gilles Lellouche, Anaïs Demoustier, director Pierre Salvadori, Pio Marmaï and Vimala Pons pose for photos ahead of the premiere of their film The Electric Kiss, a French period comedy.

Six people in formal attire walking a red carpet arm-in-arm with people behind them.

(Andreea Alexandru/Invision/The Associated Press)

Set to appear over the coming days are Kristen Stewart, Barbra Streisand, Adam Driver, Javier Bardem, Michael Fassbender, Cate Blanchett, Rami Malek, and many others. Here, model, TV host and actor Heidi Klum poses for photographers at the opening ceremony.

A woman in strapless peach-coloured gown, blowing kisses on a red carpet with photographers in the distance.

(John Locher/Invision/The Associated Press)

TV personality and swimwear designer Kimberley Garner poses for photographers.

A woman in floral patterned strapless gown, fixing her hair as she walks the red carpet, with photographers in the distance.

(John Locher/Invision/The Associated Press)

Among the filmmakers set to unveil new movies are Pedro Almodóvar (Bitter Christmas), James Gray (Paper Tiger), Na Hong-jin (Hope), Pawel Pawlikowski (Fatherland) and Ryusuke Hamaguchi (All of a Sudden). Here, director Peter Jackson, this year’s recipient of the honorary Palme d’Or, waves during the opening ceremony.