The Cannes Film Festival has opened. Jury chair George Miller was on the red carpet for the occasion, as were leading lights of China’s film industry. 

George Miller, with recent hit film “Mad Max: Fury Road” under his belt, escorted his team of jury members to greet peers and fans on the red carpet. 

Gong Li on red carpet in Cannes

Li Bingbing on red carpet in Cannes

Sharing the limelight were famed Chinese actresses Gong Li, Li Bingbing and Ni Ni. And Chinese director Jia Zhangke, who at last year’s Cannes won the Carrosse d’Or Prize awarded to “sheer film talent,” also appeared. He will give master classes at the event. 

The Hollywood contingent included director Woody Allen, there to present his 49th film, '”Cafe Society,” which opened the festival. Alongside him was star of the film, Blake Lively.

The film tells a romantic tale set in the 1930s with Kristen Stewart and Jesse Eisenberg in their first movie roles together. It has all the ingredients of an Allen movie: witty, jazzy, and well acted with the support of Steve Carrel and Parker Posey.

Twenty-one films were chosen from nearly 2,000 submissions to compete for the event’s top honor, the Palme d’Or. Another 18 films are in the running for the “Un Certain Regard” prize.

Miller says he is enjoying the company of his nine-member Cannes jury.

Stars Justin Timberlake and Anna Kendrick were also in Cannes Wednesday to launch their new animation movie “Trolls.” The film, still in post-production, sees Timberlake playing cynical troll Branch, an outsider in an overly happy world of the Trolls. The actor also provided the soundtrack to the movie, mixing original compositions with mashups of classics songs. 

The Palme d’Or will be awarded May 22.