Vintage Photos From the Cannes Film Festival Through the Years
Vintage Photos From the Cannes Film Festival Through the Years
Andrea Wurzburger, Stephanie SengweSat, May 16, 2026 at 10:00 AM UTC
0
Angelina Jolie; Beyonce Knowles; George Clooney
Credit: Getty; Jean Baptiste Lacroix/WireImage; George Pimentel/WireImage
Created in 1946, the Cannes Film Festival has become the place where the who's-who of entertainment go and premiere as well as screen some of the buzz-worthy films of the coming year. Everyone —from Old Hollywood icons such as Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor to stars such as Angelina Jolie, George Clooney, Naomi Campbell and more — has passed through the highly-anticipated festival, bringing the glam, posing on those famous stairs and creating timeless moments.
Below, check out some vintage photos from the Cannes Film Festival through the years.
01 of 27
Marilyn Moment
Credit: Gamma-Rapho via Getty
Marilyn Monroe looked stunning in a white satin gown, matching gloves and a glamorous white fur stole in 1955.
02 of 27
Oh So 'Grace'-ful
Credit: Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty
Then Grace Kelly, the actress arrived in Cannes by boat in 1955 after starring in To Catch a Thief. The following year, she would retire from acting and marry Prince Rainier III to become Princess of Monaco.
03 of 27
Sip, Sip, Hooray
Credit: William Lovelace/Express/Getty
Elizabeth Taylor looked like absolute royalty when she dined at Cannes in 1957. Just admire that tiara!
04 of 27
Life on the Edge
Credit: Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty
Sophia Loren posed on the window ledge of her hotel in Cannes in 1959.
05 of 27
Power Couple
Credit: Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty
John Lennon and Yoko Ono hung out while in Cannes in 1971, presenting their films Apothesis and The Fly.
06 of 27
Best View in the House
Credit: Gilbert TOURTE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty
Sofia Coppola got a lift from her dad, Francis Ford Coppola, during the festival in 1979.
07 of 27
Strike a Pose
Credit: Keystone/Getty
It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Arnold Schwarzenegger a.k.a. Mr. Universe a.k.a. the future governor of California flexing his muscles on a Cannes beach in 1977.
08 of 27
From Cannes with Love
Credit: Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
Sean Connery arrived at Cannes in true Bond fashion — by convertible — in 1965.
09 of 27
Take It Easy
Credit: Gamma-Rapho via Getty
Jack Nicholson managed to find some time to relax and enjoy Cannes in 1974.
10 of 27
'80s Dream
Credit: Gilbert TOURTE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty
Halloween actress Jamie Lee Curtis sported high-rise jeans and a knit shirt at Cannes in 1980.
11 of 27
Fit for a Princess
Credit: Anwar Hussein/Getty
Princess Diana was a vision in blue when she arrived at the Cannes Film Festival for a gala in 1987 with Prince Charles.
12 of 27
French Cone-ection
Credit: Dave Hogan/Getty
Madonna broke out her infamous cone bra for the premiere of In Bed with Madonna in 1991.
13 of 27
Picture Perfect
Credit: Richard Blanshard/Getty
Naomi Campbell wore a sleek, beaded gown at a party for the film Ed Wood in 1995.
Advertisement
14 of 27
Along the Wire
Credit: Dave Hogan/Hulton Archive/Getty
Pamela Anderson donned a black corset and long, black gloves that showed off her new, very fitting tattoo while arriving at Cannes in 1995 for the premiere of Barb Wire.
15 of 27
Glam Gal
Credit: Munawar Hosain/Fotos International/Getty
Salma Hayek was the picture of glam as she waved to onlookers while arriving at Cannes in 1999.
16 of 27
Sheer Beauty
Credit: Dave Hogan/Getty
Cameron Diaz rocked a sheer, one-shoulder, sequined gown in 2002 for the premiere of Gangs of New York.
17 of 27
Birds of a Feather
Credit: Gamma-Rapho via Getty
Johnny Depp and Kate Moss arrived arm-in-arm for the premiere of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas in 1998. Moss wore a chic little black dress that came complete with feather sleeves.
18 of 27
Model Behavior
Credit: J. Vespa/WireImage
Supermodel Iman wore an impressive DeBeers diamond necklace during the 2003 Cannes Film Festival.
19 of 27
Suit Up
Credit: Getty
Angelina Jolie rocked menswear to the premiere of Shrek 2 at Cannes in 2004.
20 of 27
Heads Up
Credit: PASCAL GUYOT/AFP via Getty
George Lucas checked out Natalie Portman's new hairdo after a screening of Star Wars: Episode III in 2005. Portman had recently shaved her head for the film V for Vendetta.
21 of 27
Here to Party
Beyoncé
Beyoncé brought the glam as she struck a pose in a printed blue dress at the Dreamgirls party at Hotel Martinez in 2006.
22 of 27
Belle of the Ball
Kerry Washington
Credit: Toni Anne Barson/WireImage
Kerry Washington looked like a fairytale princess in a Cinderella-esque ball gown as she attended the Zodiac premiere in 2007.
23 of 27
Love Always
Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell
Credit: Jeff Vespa/WireImage
It was date night for long-term loves Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell who were quite the handsome couple at the Death Proof VIP party in 2007.
24 of 27
Bold and Beautiful
Eva Longoria
Credit: George Pimentel/WireImage
Eva Longoria rocked a voluminous white gown for the Kung Fu Panda premiere at the Palais des Festivals in 2008.
25 of 27
Jenny from the Block
Jennifer Lopez
Credit: Mike Marsland/WireImage
Jennifer Lopez wowed at amfAR's Cinema Against AIDS 2010 benefit gala, wearing a beautiful blush pink Roberto Cavalli gown.
26 of 27
Two of a Kind
Jessica Chastain and Jada Pinkett-Smith
Credit: Michael Buckner/WireImage
Madagascar 3 costars Jada Pinkett-Smith and Jessica Chastain went for knee-length dresses with platform heels as they premiered their film at the festival in 2012.
27 of 27
Stolen Moments
George Clooney and his wife Amal Clooney
Credit: Clemens Bilan/Getty
George Clooney and wife Amal Clooney shared a romantic moment on the carpet as they attended the Money Monster premiere in 2016.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
