Why The Cannes Red Carpet Matters So Much

Added: 2026-05-25

[00:00:00]At the Cannes Film Festival, we feel proud when films like All We Imagine as Light and [music] Shadows of the Moonless Night get selected for competition. And we also wait for celebrities like Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Aliya Bhatt, and now even influencers and creators. Hello, and thank you for all your love.

[00:00:17]>> I consider that whenever I represent my country, I'm no more more Urvashi, I'm India. I feel like a very lucky L'Oreal Paris girl, and I feel very worth it.

[00:00:26]And that is what makes Cannes different from almost every other film festival in the world. Most major film festivals have red carpets. Venice has one, [music] Berlin has one, Toronto has one.

[00:00:36]But Cannes is different. Even the red carpet itself is tightly controlled.

[00:00:41]Cannes has long enforced dress codes, invitation rules, and strict screening protocols. And that exclusivity is a part of what gives the Cannes red carpet its cultural value. Because Cannes operates on multiple levels at the same time. On one side, filmmakers come here to premiere films, compete for awards like the Palme d'Or, and earn critical recognition. On the other side, the Cannes Film Market becomes a massive business hub where films are financed, bought, sold, distributed, and pitched to global audiences.

[00:01:12]>> [music] >> So Cannes is not just about art, it's also about commerce. And then comes the third layer, culture. [music] Actors, brands, creators, activists, and public figures come here not only to promote films, but also to make a statement through fashion, representation, visibility, or influence. I'm here to mainly represent the queer Muslims of the entire world. I feel like we constantly struggle to find ourselves to accept ourselves.

[00:01:38]>> This is dhoti, kurta, bandhgala, and this is Katha stitch. And if you notice, you can see fish here.

[00:01:49]Yeah.

[00:01:51]Oh my god, and what is that? This is a pocket watch. Mhm.

[00:01:55]One second.

[00:01:56]>> [music] >> Please open.

[00:02:00]Let's go show to the camera.

[00:02:02]That is why the Cannes red carpet feels bigger than a traditional film festival carpet, because it exists at the intersection of cinema, luxury, media, and internet culture.

[00:02:12]And brands understood that influence very early, especially L'Oreal, which has been bringing in celebrities like Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Jane Fonda, Simone Ashley, Alia Bhatt, and Aditi Rao Hydari, among [music] others. Today, a Cannes appearance is no longer limited to movie stars. Creators, entrepreneurs, and influencers [music] are now part of the ecosystem, because attention itself has become valuable currency. And unlike other festivals, Cannes turns every appearance into global visual culture, magazine covers, viral [music] reels, fashion commentary, and internet discourse within minutes. Because the Cannes red carpet today is not designed only for the photographers, it is designed for the internet.

[00:02:50]>> [music]