Bulbul at the 78th Cannes Film Festival

This year, Bulbul had the pleasure of attending the 78th Cannes Film Festival — where cinema, style, and stories meet under the Mediterranean sun. From the red carpet on the Croisette to the Carlton, and on to the Martinez, Cannes remains a place where everyone has a chance to meet a star – or become one.

We’re excited to share this short video capturing how the festival looked through our eyes. It is part of an official competition at Festival—a unique experience we were proud to take part in. We leave it with you to enjoy…

The 78th edition was a true celebration cinema’s brightest starts— from Tom Cruise premiering the new Mission Impossible, to Leonardo DiCaprio and Quentin Tarantino opening the festival, and Robert De Niro making a grand return after presiding over the jury in 2011. The red carpet shimmered with legends.

We were fortunate to attend screenings of this year’s awarded films: Un Simple Accident by Jafar Panahi won the Palme d’Or—a moving and politically powerful work. Sentimental Value by Joachim Trier received the Grand Prix, capturing hearts with its raw emotional depth. And many others that left a lasting impression.

A standout moment was the premiere of Honey Don’t, directed by Ethan Coen, starring Margaret Qualley, Aubrey Plaza, Charlie Day and Chris Evans. Experiencing the film the alongside the cast made for a unique and electric experience. The film closed the festival as an Hors Compétition (Out of competition) gem.

Cannes also reminded us of where cinema is heading. With sessions on AI in film and “Le Cinéma de Demain,” it’s inspiring to see such a prestigious event adapting, questioning, and even leading the conversation around new technologies and storytelling tools.

Another striking theme this year was the prevalence of films critiquing authoritarian regimes. The Palme d’Or-winning Un Simple Accident stood out as a powerful example. The moment Juliette Binoche — president of this year’s jury and long-time supporter of Jafar Panahi — handed him the award, 15 years after he was banned from attending the festival, was nothing short of historic.

This year’s Cannes sent a clear message: hope belongs to those who persist.

See you at the 79th Cannes Film Festival…