Old school stars devour 'influencers', models and tiktokeros on the Cannes carpet

When last Wednesday the 18th, eight planes from the French air force's acrobatic patrol made two low flights over the Palais des Festivals in Cannes before the screening of

it was clear that the contest was surrendering to Tom Cruise, the last movie star who has disdained the platforms and who has thrown himself uncontrollably into the cinema show.

That afternoon it was confirmed that in a year in which the festival is limping along due to the shock waves of the pandemic and in which TikTok's sponsorship of the red carpet has raised hives, there is nothing safer than veterans like Tom Cruise, Julia Roberts, Naomi Campbell or Eva Longoria to relaunch the image.

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The covid-19 has caused the disappearance of Asian stars from the

- who before 2019 had conquered the tickets to the gala sessions - and that very few actors of the new generations walk the Croisette.

And the invasion of Ukraine has meant that there is no trace of Russian tycoons.

If on the horizon the scarcity of yachts stranded in the city's bay is striking, on the streets it is evident that luxury prostitution has disappeared.

and

fire back regularly ,

although the restaurants fill up every night: there are 11,000 more accredited than in 2021, and the Cinema Market closed this Tuesday with a return with signs of recovery in the world business.

From left, Miles Teller, Tom Cruise, Jennifer Connelly and Jon Hamm at the Cannes premiere of 'Top Gun: Maverick'. Vianney Le Caer (AP)

The presence of Tom Cruise has overshadowed the rest of the actors, actresses, models and

who would like to show off at Cannes.

Its red carpet on the first Wednesday of the festival was also the catwalk used by the cosmetics companies L'Oréal and the jewelry company Chopard —which also created the Palmes d'Or, like the one that was given to the actor by surprise— to show muscle of the

(hyperbole in English with which the industry defines its promotions) at your disposal.

Of course in Cannes, where three daily red carpets take place, the entire French

appears constantly.

But that day there was almost no room for them, except for Omer Sy and Benjamin Biolay.

After Cruise, Jennifer Connelly and Jon Hamm, veterans of

along with the young pilots (the best known is Miles Teller), appeared actresses like Eva Longoria, Aishwarya Rai, Viola Davis and one of the most coveted of the new generations by clothing brands: Elle Fanning.

The rest?

Models like Toni Garn, Josephine Skriver, Anja Rubik or Jasmine Tookes,

like Leonie Hanne and Sira Pevida or even the twin nieces of Lady Di, Amelia and Eliza Spencer.

Eva Longoria, at the 'Top Gun: Maverick' gala. Vianney Le Caer (AP)

For almost two decades, the red carpet has become the best showcase for haute couture to show off its designs.

If before they were carried by interpreters, now the mannequins wear them directly.

Very few of those who are photographed at the galas, parties, dinners and assorted soirees during the Cannes festival come for the cinema;

most come paid by brands.

And before the pandemic, the luxury industry had opened a gap in the Asian market, so that's why since 2015 the Asian presence (especially Chinese) in the Côte d'Azur multiplied.

Now they have disappeared, although that sector has returned to pre-pandemic income: according to Salesland and Increnta, a multinational specialized in

and sales, the first half of 2022 will close with sales of luxury products worth 300,000 million euros.

Of this volume, 45% of sales are influenced by digital actions, and in 2025 China will account for half of the business volume.

to return to Cannes little by little ,

although companies like Dior have reduced their presence to a party.

Anything goes in Cannes: Tony Parker, a four-time NBA champion and Longoria's ex-husband, has been in town promoting a new brand of powdered health drink.

Kristen Stewart poses for photographers before the 'Crimes of the Future' press conference. ERIC GAILLARD (REUTERS)

Last weekend there were several high points that underline the triumph of veteran faces.

Julia Roberts—wearing a Chopard necklace with a 100-carat yellow diamond in its center—walked in and swept James Gray's

gala with Anne Hathaway;

Marion Cotillard presented the new film by Arnaud Desplechin, which was attended by Charlotte Casiraghi;

Idris Elba and Tilda Swinton premiered

by George Miller, and Alessandra Ambrosio was once again one of the most photographed.

And as much as the new generations go with Xavier Dolan, Adéle Exarchopoulos or Lashana Lynch, photographers still enjoy more with Sharon Stone, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Carla Bruni, Natalia Vodiánova, Adriana Lima or even the fighter Conor McGregor, an idol in the Anglo-Saxon world.

And on Monday night, David Cronenberg's

lined up stars for all generations: Viggo Mortensen, Léa Seydoux and Kristen Stewart.

Léa Seydoux, before the 'Crimes Of The Future' gala.Joe Maher (Getty Images)

These last two actresses deserve an aside.

Stewart has become a media and artistic empire herself thanks to her influence on new generations and her good judgment in choosing film projects.

Seydoux is, directly, the queen of post-pandemic Cannes: if in 2021 four films were screened with her (and she could not come because she tested positive for covid in Paris), in this edition, Cronenberg's is joined by

by Mia Hansen-Løve, in the Directors' Fortnight.

The French is the bridge between established and emerging stars.

Elle Fanning, on the red carpet of 'Top Gun: Maverick'. SEBASTIEN NOGIER (EFE)

And among those emerging, the

and tiktokers.

Cannes accepted that the social network TikTok enter as a sponsor and that 20 of its users create content about their festival experience.

Furthermore, he organized a contest, TikTokShortFilm, and managed to get the contest's general delegate, Thierry Frémaux, to deliver the prizes.

To give weight to the event, the jury would be chaired by Rithy Pahn, the eminent Cambodian director nominated for an Oscar for

The prizes were awarded on Sunday after the anxiety of Thursday: that day, Pahn resigned from his position for hours, fed up with TikTok reaching into the award winners.

First they wanted to give an

for best film to reward the title chosen by the jury and another selected by them;

Hours later, they removed the film from the jury "for not respecting the rules."

Pahn got angry, spilled the beans on

and TikTok backed down and capitulated.

Alessandra Ambrosio arrives, in Cannes, at the 'Three thousand years waiting for you' gala.CLEMENS BILAN (EFE)

Those who are not there, nor are they expected, are the Russian millionaires, who only appear as one of the characters

in Ruben Östlund 's

His absence stands out in the few yachts anchored off the beach or in his usual hustle and bustle at his favorite accommodation in the city, the Hotel Martinez (which, on the other hand, maintains its motley nightlife).

The legion of luxury prostitutes who landed on La Croisette these days are not seen in restaurants and shops either.

According to

although the festival has banned the presence of the Russian industry and media, Russian buyers have come to the Market held within the contest, and carry out their work discreetly.

For business there are never enemies, as is made clear in

no country is ever mentioned nor are the faces of the villains seen.

Cruise knows that his audience is worldwide.

Léa Seydoux (left), Viggo Mortensen and Kristen Stewart, leaving the Palais des Festivals after the screening of the film 'Crimes Of the Future' on Monday.

LOIC VENANCE (AFP)

The Spanish actress Rossy de Palma, upon her arrival at the Cannes Film Festival for the premiere of the film 'L'Innocent', this Tuesday.

Daniel Cole (AP)

French actor Vincent Cassel and his wife, French model Tina Kunakey, arrived on Monday to attend a screening of the film 'Crimes Of the Future' in Cannes. SARAH MEYSSONNIER (REUTERS)

Naomi Campbell was attending a screening of 'Decision To Leave (Heojil Kyolshim)' on Monday.

CHRISTOPHE SIMON (AFP)

From left to right, the actors Vanille Lehmann, Jérémy Gillet, the director Déborah François and the actress Ludmilla Makowski, attend this Tuesday the 'photocall' organized by Adami, the French organization that manages the rights of interpreters, which each edition of Cannes makes a selection of young talents.

JOE MAHER (Getty Images)

The 'Crimes Of The Future' film crew, from left: Don McKellar, Léa Seydoux, the director, David Cronenberg, Viggo Mortensen, Kristen Stewart and Robert Lantos, on the red carpet Monday before attending the screening of the film. Pascal LeSegretain (Getty Images)

Lea Seydoux and Viggo Mortensen, during the photo session of 'Crimes Of The Future', this Tuesday.

The film is presented in the official competition of the festival. SEBASTIEN NOGIER (EFE)

Isabelle Huppert was attending a screening of 'Les Amandiers' on Sunday.

Vittorio Zunino Celotto (Getty Images)

The Algerian-French actress Lyna Khoudri, during the 'photocall' of the film 'Nos Frangins (Our Brothers)', this Tuesday.

PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA (AFP)

German-American actress Diane Kruger and American actor Norman Reedus arrive at the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday for the screening of 'L'Innocent'.VALERY HACHE (AFP)

Kristen Stewart and French actress Lea Seydoux pose during the photocall for the film "Crimes Of The Future" on the 24th.VALERY HACHE (AFP)

'Crimes Of The Future' actor Welket Bungué attends the photo shoot this Tuesday.

Joe Maher (Getty Images)

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