Angelina Jolie stuns in white gown, champions global cinema at Cannes
Photo from celebstyletalk/Instagram
Commanding the stage at Cannes with both elegance and purpose, Angelina Jolie used her appearance at the Chopard Trophée Gala on Friday night to spotlight a message close to her heart.
While honoring stars Marie Colomb and Finn Bennett, the Academy Award-winning actress took the opportunity to champion international cinema and advocate for making it more accessible to audiences around the world.
In her speech, Jolie reflected on what truly draws people to Cannes. She remarked that while the glamour is undeniable, the real purpose of gathering is the chance to connect through creativity and storytelling.
She shared her deep appreciation for international cinema, saying it allows people to be transported into other cultures, private experiences, and even the chaos of war, fostering empathy along the way.
“What brings us here is not carpets, even though they’re lovely,” Jolie told the audience. She highlighted how global cinema enables audiences to empathize with unfamiliar lives and lands, bringing the world closer together.
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Jolie also pointed to the Nigerian film “My Father’s Shadow,” premiering in the Un Certain Regard section, as a powerful example of the importance of diverse stories. The drama, centered on the 1993 election crisis in Nigeria, marks a historic moment as the first Nigerian entry in the category.
According to Jolie, making such films more accessible is necessary. “Anything that is possible to make international cinema more accessible is necessary and welcome,” she stressed.
Always the humanitarian, Jolie moved beyond the red carpet glow to address the harsh realities faced by many storytellers. She acknowledged that countless artists around the world work under threat, with some even losing their lives in pursuit of truth.
In closing, Jolie praised Colomb and Bennett for their “extraordinary versatility, authenticity, and empathy,” describing them as talents who will shape the future of global storytelling. She expressed gratitude not only for what they’ve accomplished but also for what lies ahead in their creative journeys.
