The Cannes film festival kicked off Tuesday with a highly political ceremony that included a tribute to a slain Palestinian photojournalist from Juliette Binoche and a fresh attack on US President Donald Trump from Robert De Niro.

Binoche, who heads this year's Cannes jury that will award the Palme d'Or top prize, lamented the death of Gaza photographer Fatima Hassouna to the star-studded audience.

Hassouna, 25, was killed in an Israeli air strike last month along with her family, a day after a documentary about her was selected to premiere at Cannes.

"She should have been here tonight with us," an emotional Binoche said, adding that "in every region of the world, artists are fighting every day and make resistance into art."

She also briefly referenced the Israeli hostages taken by Palestinian group Hamas in its October 7, 2023 assault on Israel, which sparked the Gaza war.

On the eve of the festival, more than 380 film insiders including "Schindler's List" actor Ralph Fiennes and former Cannes-winning directors said they were "ashamed" of their industry's failure to speak out about........

© Al Monitor