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When Eric Gaillard first went to photograph the Cannes Film Festival in 1981, it was a smaller, more intimate affair.
It was the kind of place where you could see the greats from Hollywood's Golden Age like Lauren Bacall or Ava Gardner wandering alone on the esplanade or having fun on the beach without bodyguards.
Aishwarya Rai poses on the red carpet at the 70th Cannes Film Festival, 2017. ()Morgan Freeman poses at the 58th Cannes Film Festival, 2005. ()
Returning for his 40th time, Mr Gaillard found a different beast — larger, more multicultural, with more restrictions on where photographers could stand to try and get that viral snap or capture the moment when a movie star gets caught off-guard sharing an intimate smile, striking a goofy pose, or having a bad hair day.
Elizabeth Taylor and George Hamilton arrive at the 40th Cannes Film Festival, 1987. ()Diego Maradona plays with a ball while promoting the film Maradona by Kusturica at the 61st Cannes Film Festival, 2008.()Actor Penelope Cruz waves as she leaves the screening of Pedro Almodovar's film Volver at the 59th Cannes Film Festival, 2006. ()The 2021 edition of the festival looked a little different. ()
The 76th edition of the festival, taking place from May 16 to May 27, has seen Cannes' usual population triple to 230,000 people to watch films, rub shoulders with celebrities and — in some cases — compete for the coveted Palme D'Or.
Actor Kristen Stewart removes her heels on the red carpet at 2018 festival.()Director Michael Moore holds the Palme d'Or for his documentary Fahrenheit 9/11 in 2004. ()Actor Nicole Kidman signs autographs while promoting the film The Killing of a Sacred Deer in 2017.()Late director Agnes Varda is seen on a screen during her tribute ceremony at the 72nd Festival, 2019.()
Gaillard, who is retiring after this festival, was there for Reuters, snapping Michael Douglas pointing at the camera with a cheeky grin and a besuited Harrison Ford receiving an Honorary Palme D'Or.
Harrison Ford poses with his Honorary Palme d'Or Award at the The 76th Cannes Film Festival, this year. ()Director Emmanuelle Bercot poses during a photocall for the film La tete haute out of competition before the opening of the 68th Cannes Film Festival.()Actor Sharon Stone arrives for the screening of British director Peter Chelsom's film The Mighty in 1998. ()Actor Pierce Brosnan poses as he promotes the James Bond film Die another day in 2002.
He was there in 1997 when Michael Jackson was in attendance, in 2008 when Diego Maradona showed off soccer tricks, and in 2018 when Kristen Stewart kicked off her heels on the red carpet.
Quentin Tarantino laughs with actor Uma Thurman as they promote their film Kill Bill Vol. 2 in 2004.()Actor Woody Harrelson is held by director Michael Cimino and actors Alexandra Tydings, Jon Seda as they arrive for the screening of their film Sunchaser at the 49th Festival in 1996.()Photographers surround Michael Jackson as he arrives for the midnight screening of his movie short Ghosts in 1997. ()Elizabeth Taylor pins a red ribbon on Sylvester Stallone's tuxedo during the Cinema for AIDS evening in 1993. ()
A shot from the 48th edition of the festival in 1995 shows a disarmingly young Johnny Depp, while a black-and-white photo from 1987 depicts a tanned, bejewelled Liz Taylor with one-time flame George Hamilton.
Actor Christophe Lambert looks surprised as Emmanuelle Seigner and Stefania Rocca kiss him on the cheek in 1997. ()Actor Jean Pierre Leaud promoting the film La Mort De Louis XIV (The Death of Louis XIV) at the 69th Cannes Film Festival, 2016. ()
More recent photos show cinemagoers wearing masks (the festival was cancelled in 2020 because of the COVID pandemic but came back the following year with restrictions), increasing numbers of women among the phalanxes of photographers, and attendees using phones to create their own social media posts.
Actors Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt arrive for the screening of Wolfang Petersen's Troy in 2004.()Actor Angelina Jolie arrives for the screening of the animated film Kung Fu Panda at the 61st Cannes Film Festival, 2008. ()
But the essential glamour and fascination of the occasion has not changed — for the stars, or for the journalists. Mr Gaillard said Cannes is "an incredible experience."
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