The official poster of the 77th Festival de Cannes was raised above the Palais des Festivals on Sunday (May 12).

This year’s image is taken from Japanese filmmaker, Akira Kurosawa’s 1991 film “Rhapsody in August”. By highlighting Kurosawa’s work, the festival reaffirms the conviction: cinema is a universal sanctuary, a space for expression and sharing, where our humanity and our freedom are equally written into every frame.

Festival organizers said the poster serves as a testament to the power of cinema, which gives voice to all, fights forgetfulness, calls for unity in the face of peril, and assists in healing and repairing the living. Adding, the film’s profound message of love, integrity, and resilience in the face of war continues to echo in the halls of cinema.

The film, directed by Kurosawa at the age of 81, tells the story of a grandmother, a survivor of the 1945 Nagasaki bombing. In her twilight years, she imparts to her grandchildren and American nephew the strength found in love and integrity as shields against the horrors of war. Her lessons are delivered with a gentle tenderness that invites contemplation, resonating strongly with audiences even decades later.

The Cannes Film Festival will bring together the industry’s biggest luminaries in southern France to celebrate cinema, with Hollywood stars including George Lucas, Meryl Streep and Demi Moore expected to grace the red carpet.

This year’s festival begins on May 14 with the French-language comedy “The Second Act” by director Quentin Dupieux starring Lea Seydoux and Vincent London. The festival runs until May 25.

(Reuters)