Indian actress Aishwarya Rai and US director Alexander Payne officially launched this year’s festival in a theatre packed with celebrities from around the world as well as film greats, with thousands of fans angling to get a glimpse outside.
“It’s an absolute pleasure and honour for me to declare the 58th Cannes film festival open,” said Ms Rai in English, after a spectacular gymnastics display by a member of Canadian troupe Cirque du Soleil.
Ms Rai, a Bollywood star who broke through into international cinema after starring in Bride and Prejudice, sat on the Cannes jury three years ago.
Mr Payne, known for directing the films About Schmidt and Sideways, repeated her declaration in French.
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