IN PHOTOS | Cannes Film Festival opening

IN PHOTOS | Cannes Film Festival opening

Day 1 gets underway with filmmakers, celebs on the red carpet for opening night

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.

(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.

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.

(John Locher/Invision/The Associated Press)

TV personality and swimwear designer Kimberley Garner poses for photographers.

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.

(Scott Garfitt/Invision/The Associated Press)

Irish reality TV personality Maura Higgins poses for photographers at the opening ceremony.

(Scott A Garfitt/Invision/The Associated Press)

Actor Elijah Wood, left, and his wife, Danish film producer Mette-Marie Kongsved, pose for photographers at the opening ceremony.

Actor Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu poses on the red carpet during arrivals for the opening ceremony.

Spectators attend the opening ceremony in Cannes, France.

A guest poses on the red carpet during arrivals for the opening ceremony.

With files from The Associated Press