The 76th Cannes Film Festival kicks off with the highly anticipated premiere of the Louis XV period drama "Jeanne du Barry," starring Johnny Depp, bringing the iconic Cannes red carpet back to life today.

This year's festival promises an exciting mix of spectacle, scandal, and outstanding cinema over the next 12 days. However, it takes place against the backdrop of labor unrest, as protests related to France's pension system changes are planned to coincide with the festival, albeit at a distance from its main hub.

Furthermore, the ongoing screenwriters' strike in Hollywood adds an element of unpredictability to the French Riviera festival.

Nevertheless, with a lineup featuring eagerly awaited big-budget films like James Mangold's "Indiana Jones and the Dial of the Destiny" and Martin Scorsese's "Killers of the Flower Moon," the show must go on.

Multiple stars, including Natalie Portman, Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Sean Penn, Alicia Vikander, the Weeknd, and Scarlett Johansson, are expected to grace the red carpet at Cannes over the next week and a half.

The opening day's festivities include an opening ceremony where Michael Douglas will be honored with an honorary Palme d'Or, followed by the presentation of another Palme d'Or to "Indiana Jones" star Harrison Ford. The jury, responsible for awarding the festival's top prize, the Palme d'Or, will also be introduced.