May 16, 2012

Cannes 2012: day one – in pictures

Highlights from the opening day of the film festival include the photocall for Wes Anderson's Moonrise Kingdom, while Sacha Baron Cohen stages a grand entrance for The Dictator

Cannes film festival: Workers prepare the red carpet in front of the Palais des Festivals — The traditional opening day picture: workers unroll the red carpet in front of the Palais des Festivals. It's up these steps that Wes Anderson, Bruce Willis, Tilda Swinton et al will be tripping this evening, for the opening gala screening of Moonrise Kingdom Photograph: Stephane Reix/EPA

Moonrise Kingdom Cannes: US director Wes Anderson — The man of the moment: Wes Anderson, relieved no doubt the press screening of Moonrise Kingdom is over, dons a John Travolta suit to face the paparazzi. All that poise is no good, though, if you're facing the wrong way Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

Moonrise Kingdom Cannes: — Now here's a real pro. Bruce Willis shows young whippersnappers Jason Schwartzman (left) and Anderson how to give the camera what it wants. One eye slightly closed, laser beam stare … priceless Photograph: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Moonrise Kingdom Cannes: — Tilda Swinton succeeds where Anderson failed, and lets the photographers get a decent shot Photograph: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Moonrise Kingdom Cannes: Cast members Willis and Murray — Are these two angling for the Sunshine Boys remake? Willis looks dapper, but Bill Murray is going full-bore Florida retiree in that jacket Photograph: Yves Herman/Reuters

Moonrise Kingdom Cannes: — Moonrise Kingdom's two young stars, Kara Hayward and Jared Gilman – looking understandably excited by it all – stand between director Anderson and, on the right, co-writer Roman Coppola Photograph: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Moonrise Kingdom Cannes: — Here's Edward Norton, on his own. Maybe he got into a row over artistic control and found himself locked out of the press room? Or simply hasn't got any friends? Photograph: Venturelli/WireImage

Moonrise Kingdom Cannes: — You show me yours, I'll show you mine … Bill Murray whips out a teeny-tiny camera to show the paparazzi what's what Photograph: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Cannes film festival: Ewan McGregor, Diane Kruger and Jean-Paul Gautier, Cannes — A slightly quieter affair: the distingished members of the jury face the photographers. On the left is fashion designer Jean-Paul Gautier, on the right is Ewan McGregor; between them is Diane Kruger. She's clearly got a sixth sense for cameras Photograph: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images

Cannes film festival: Italian director and president of the Jury Nanni Moretti — Jury president Nanni Moretti, director of Dear Diary and The Son's Room, demonstrates some of that ice-cool Italian attitude. Pity hardly anyone is there to notice Photograph: Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP/Getty Images

Cannes film festival: — Is this the longest promotional tour in history? Sacha Baron Cohen has been keeping The Dictator going since the Oscars, some four months ago. Here he is 'noticed' with one of his submachine-gun-toting henchmen aboard a fancy yacht up at the Hotel du Cap, Cannes' refuge for the super rich Photograph: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

Cannes film festival: — And what's this? Dictator and henchman appear to be throwing a body in the water. Surely not? Photograph: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

Cannes film festival: — Back on dry land, Baron Cohen grapples with a camel – but it's not so easy as it looks, and he nearly comes a cropper Photograph: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images

Cannes film festival: Eva Herzigova is seen on the roof of the Martinez Hotel Cannes — Apropos of nothing, that's Eva Herzigova over there, standing on the roof of the Martinez Hotel. Well, what would Cannes be without a few random shots of beautiful people? Nothing and nowhere, that's for sure Photograph: Danny Martindale/FilmMagic

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