Cannes Jurors Juliette Binoche, Jeremy Strong on Trump’s Shadow Over the Fest: “He’s Trying to Save His Ass”

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At the initial press conference held on Tuesday, Halle Berry, Jeremy Strong, and Juror-in-Chief Juliette Binoche found themselves promptly questioned about various topics related to Donald Trump during the event at the festival.

They were accompanied by Alba Rohrwacher, directors Hong Sangsoo, Payal Kapadia, and Carlos Reygadas, French-Moroccan author Leïla Slimani, and Congolese documentary filmmaker Dieudo Hamadi.

As a gamer, I can’t help but feel like we’ve just leveled up in a game that’s called “Global Economy Simulator.” The latest twist? President Donald Trump has been ramping up tariffs all over the place, causing quite a stir. Lately, he’s set his sights on Hollywood, proposing a whopping 100% movie tariff on international films. This news has sent chills down the spines of every film producer rushing to the Croisette, making us all question what move comes next in this intriguing game.

When asked how proposed tariffs might affect the global film industry, Binoche expressed uncertainty as it seems to necessitate an examination of various world industries and cinemas. She acknowledged President Trump’s intention to safeguard his country, but for Europe, we have a robust film-making community on our continent. Truthfully, I’m not sure what to comment about that situation. It appears he is battling in multiple ways to protect America.

The Apprentice,” according to Strong, who played a key role in Succession and was nominated for an Oscar for his depiction of the fierce lawyer-turned-Trump advisor Roy Cohn in Ali Abbasi’s film premiered at Cannes last year, “definitely highlights the seriousness of the situation.” Strong views Roy Cohn as the originator of disinformation and alternative facts, and believes we are still dealing with the fallout from what he set in motion.

He went on to explain: “I believe that as truth faces growing threats and becomes more endangered, the significance of stories, movies, art, and particularly in this film sanctuary, the importance of cinema is becoming increasingly vital. It can challenge those destructive forces that undermine truth and convey individual, human, and societal truths. It can also reinforce and honor our shared humanity. In essence, what I’m doing here this year could be seen as a balancing force to the actions of Roy Cohn last year.

Perhaps you will understand my reasoning a bit later.” She declined to elaborate further.

Previously during the meeting, most jurors chose not to respond when questioned about the letter, except for Slimani.

Somewhere else, Berry mentioned that she won’t be able to don her preferred dress for tonight’s premiere event at Cannes due to their new rule prohibiting nudity and large gowns on the red carpet. “I had a stunning dress planned for this evening, but I can’t wear it because the train is too expansive. Naturally, I’ll adhere to the regulations. I’ve had to change my outfit, and while I understand the nudity restriction might be necessary as well.

Halle Berry, who plays a role in the X-Men series, expressed doubts about re-casting James Bond as a woman after Amazon took over the franchise. Although there were plans for a spin-off based on her character Jinx from Die Another Day, this never materialized. When asked about 007, Berry said, “It’s nice to think that in 2025 a woman could play James Bond, but I’m not entirely convinced it’s the right decision. Additionally, I don’t believe there will be a Jinx spin-off. The opportunity for that might have existed at one point and perhaps should have been seized.

As a movie enthusiast, I can’t contain my excitement for the upcoming Cannes Film Festival 2025! From May 13th to the 24th, the world of cinema will come alive with the best films from around the globe. The festival will commence with Amélie Bonnin’s heartwarming French romance, Leave One Day, a film I can hardly wait to see!

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2025-05-13 16:24