2026 Cannes Film Festival Opens with del Toro's "Pan's Labyrinth" and Salvadori's "The Electric Kiss"
By
Anne Thompson
An everything bagel for the brain. Substantive, layered, well-seasoned.
Summary
The article recaps the opening night of the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, highlighting the screening of Guillermo del Toro's "Pan's Labyrinth" (with Alfonso Cuarón in attendance) and Pierre Salvadori's opening ceremony film "The Electric Kiss." It notes the tradition of French movies opening the festival due to distributor obligations for wide French release and party funding, and mentions the introduction of the competition jury.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledCannes opening day was packed, from a rousing screening of Guillermo del Toro's Oscar-winning classic 'Pan's Labyrinth' with his amigo Alfonso Cuarón on hand
Pierre Salvadori's French carnival divertisement 'The Electric Kiss,' the opening ceremony film that makes del Toro's 'Nightmare Alley' look like a masterpiece
One reason French movies often open the festival is that the distributor not only helps to pay for the opening night party but also has to release widely in France the same day
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