"Everybody Knows" with Penelope Cruz to open Cannes
PARIS -- The Cannes Film Festival is opening with a Spanish-language film -- a psychological thriller starring Penelope Cruz -- the first time since 2004 that the star-studded event is kicking off with a movie that's not in English or French.
Organizers announced Thursday that "Everybody Knows," by Iranian director Asghar Farhadi, will open the May 8-19 festival.
The film follows family intrigues and the moral dilemmas of a woman whose life is turned upside down when she leaves Argentina for Spain. In addition to Cruz, it stars Spanish actor Javier Bardem and Argentinian actor Ricardo Darin.
Farhadi won best foreign film Oscars for "A Separation" and "The Salesman."
Cate Blanchett is leading the jury of this year's festival, which comes as the industry is under upheaval over revelations of sexual misconduct.
This year's festival is not without controversy. Top festival official Thierry Fremaux says red carpet-selfies will be banned at this year's star-studded event, saying, "It's not beautiful. It's grotesque. It's ridiculous .... We want to restore a bit of decency."
Fremaux also said recently that Netflix movies will be banned from competition at this year's festival, which runs May 8 to 19.