The opening ceremony of the 79th Cannes Film Festival, on Tuesday, May 12, promises to be a musical extravaganza. According to information from Le Parisien, organizers revealed this Friday that French singers Theodora and Oklou will perform a Beatles classic during the evening, which will be broadcast live from 19 p.m. on France 2 and France.tv. Alongside them, Grammy Award-winning American violinist Miri Ben-Ari will compose a piece specially for the occasion, which will accompany the opening remarks of the master of ceremonies, actress Eye Haïdara. "I want to be sincere, have fun, and enjoy myself. These are my three guiding principles," she said, according to the Festival's press release.
A nod to director Peter Jackson, honorary Palme d'Or recipient in 2026
The choice of the Beatles is likely not insignificant. According to Le Parisien, the song performed each year at the opening ceremony is traditionally linked to the presence of a high-profile guest. This year, Peter Jackson will receive an honorary Palme d'Or for his lifetime achievement—the director of The Lord of the Rings dedicated the 2021 documentary series The Beatles: Get Back to the British band, of which he is a self-proclaimed fan. This choice represents further recognition for 22-year-old Theodora, whose album Mega BBL has swept the board this season—Victoires de la Musique awards, Flammes awards, and an ongoing Zenith tour. Oklou, 33, a more underground artist but endorsed by Billie Eilish and praised by the English-language press for her debut album Choke Enough, considered one of the best of 2025, performed at Coachella in April. She will also be present on the Croisette as a member of the jury for the 65th Critics' Week, chaired by Indian filmmaker Payal Kapadia, and has written the soundtrack for the opening film of this section, the animated feature In Waves.
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