Hollywood icon Angelina Jolie remembered artists who lost their lives amid ongoing global conflicts.
She remembered Fatima Hassouna, a young artist killed during the Gaza war, as well as Shaden Gardood from Sudan and Victoria Amelina from Ukraine.
In her opening remarks at a prestigious Cannes Film Festival event, Jolie expressed her deep appreciation for international cinema, calling it a powerful medium that transcends borders.
“We are brought to other lands, into private moments, even on the battlefield, we connect and we empathize,” she said.
Jolie referenced the film My Father’s Shadow, premiering at Cannes, as an example of storytelling that bridges cultures and realities.
She stressed the importance of making international cinema more accessible, acknowledging the risks many artists take to share their truths.
“We know that many artists around the world lack the freedom and security to tell their stories, and many have lost their lives… We owe all of those risking their lives and sharing their stories and experiences a debt of gratitude,” she said solemnly.
Serving as this year’s Chopard Godmother, Jolie presided over the glamorous Trophée Chopard dinner at Carlton Beach on Friday night. The event honored emerging talents Marie Colomb of France and British actor Finn Bennett, known for his roles in Warfare and True Detective: Night Country.
Cannes Film Festival president Iris Knobloch, general delegate Thierry Frémaux, Chopard co-president Caroline Scheufele, and members of the competition jury including Halle Berry, Jeremy Strong, and jury president Juliette Binoche attended the event while Director Quentin Tarantino, seated across from Jolie, was also among the prominent guests.