Cannes

The 65th annual Cannes Film Festival began yesterday.  Opening the festival last night was the latest Wes Anderson film, Moonrise Kingdom, which Anderson co-wrote with Roman Coppola.  The film stars Bill Murrary, Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, and Tilda Swinton.

Of course, the festival didn't begin without at least an ounce of controversy. A group of female filmmakers wrote a letter, which was published in Le Monde, voicing their discontent over the fact that there are no female-made movies being screened this year at the festival. In fact, the only female filmmaker to have ever won the festival's higest honor, the Palm D'Or, was Jane Campion who did so in 1993 for her movie The Piano.

However, in spite of whispersings of "sexism" and the obvious implications that the film industry might still be a bit of a boys' club, the true kick off to the festival might have been the late morning appearance of Sacha Baron Cohen.  Outside The Carlton hotel, Cohen appeared - camel in toe - in a crowd that instantly turned to frenzied chaos upon his arrival.

Finally, the first night of after-parties commenced after the 11pm second showing of Moonrise Kingdom.  And what better way to start get the first night of after-parties raging that an appearance by P. Diddy at the VIP Room last night in Cannes?

Other celebrities that have already been spotted around town include Lana Del Rey, Alec Baldwin, Isla Fisher, Chris Pine, and Eva Longoria.

--Molly S Kruser