14/05/2025

LYFE WEDNESDAY | MAY 14, 2025

23

Picture perfect M ALAYSIAN model and fashion entrepreneur Sharminidevi Parameispran, better o Sharwita to spotlight Malaysian fashion at Cannes red carpet for second time internationally acclaimed shoe designer Datuk Jimmy Choo.

Will the American stars at the festival speak out or will European filmmakers demand the same protections from US-made films, which still dominate the box office in many countries? Hollywood stardust Tom Cruise, who will attend the premiere of the last instalment of Mission: Impossible, and Robert De Niro, who will receive an honorary Palme d’Or, will be two of the biggest Hollywood stars in town. Cruise has made a point of avoiding politics throughout his career, while De Niro struggles to find words harsh enough to describe Trump who he has branded “evil”, “pig” and a “dog” in the past. Other American actors in attendance include Joaquin Phoenix, Denzel Washington, Emma Stone and Jennifer Lawrence, while Jeremy Strong and Halle Berry are on the jury. Stars-turned-directors As well as appearing in Wes Anderson’s latest film The Phoenician Scheme , Scarlett Johansson is set to present her directorial debut Eleanor the Great in the secondary Un Certain Regard competition. She will be up against fellow American actress-turned-director Sharwita is also scheduled to attend film premieres and participate in networking sessions across more than 60 international pavilions, representing Malaysia not only in fashion but also as a cultural ambassador. “Cannes is not just about glamour. It is also about connecting, learning and opening doors for collaboration. I see myself as a bridge between Malaysia and the global creative industries, from fashion to film,” she said. Born and raised in Kajang, Selangor, Sharwita is also the founder of Le Fashion Secret, a modelling agency that connects aspiring Malaysian talents with international opportunities. She is known for providing free catwalk training and mentoring to aspiring models and beauty queens. Sharwita is currently in discussions with the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia to formalise collaborative efforts following her Cannes appearance, aimed at promoting Malaysia as a hub for fashion tourism in support of the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 campaign. The 78th Cannes Film Festival will be held until May 24 in Cannes, France. Recognised as one of the world’s most prestigious film festivals, it showcases films of various genres and attracts top names from the global film and fashion industries. – Bernama

known as Sharwita, is set to make an appearance at the 78th Cannes Film Festival 2025 Red Carpet Premiere next Tuesday. This will be her second appearance at the prestigious international film festival and she will use the platform to promote Malaysia’s established fashion brands, positioning the country as a fashion tourism destination within Asean. “Malaysia has everything – multicultural richness, creative designers and the potential to be a fashion tourism destination for Asean and beyond. I hope my participation at Cannes helps drive that message,” she said. As the official brand ambassador of Thamarai Jewels, the official jewellery partner for her Cannes Red Carpet appearance, Sharwita will wear exclusive, specially designed pieces to complete her look. At the Cannes Film Festival Red Carpet event last year, Sharwita made headlines with a kebaya-inspired gown featuring 10,000 handcrafted petals. For this year’s appearance, the model, who has 20 years of experience in the fashion industry, will wear a luxury couture design by The Atelier, a renowned Malaysian haute couture brand whose team of international fashion designers is led by

Sharwita wears jewellery from Thamarai Jewels during the interview.

Sharwita will promote Malaysia’s established fashion brands, positioning the country as a fashion tourism destination within Asean. – PICS FROM BERNAMA

What to look out for at Cannes film festival THE glitz and glamour of the Cannes film festival returned to the French Riviera as the event kicked off yesterday. uncertainty over the future of overseas productions. Kristen Stewart who will also showcase her first film behind the camera, The Chronology of Water , in the same category.

Harris Dickinson, 28, who recently appeared as Nicole Kidman’s lover in Babygirl , completes a trio of stars-turned-directors at Cannes with his film Urchin . Gaza A day after Cannes announced a documentary about Gaza photojournalist Fatima Hassouna was set to be screened at the parallel Acid festival, her home was bombed by the Israeli army, killing her and 10 relatives. The outrage over her death has increased interest in the film Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk by Iranian director Sepideh Farsi, which reveals Hassouna as a luminous but increasingly fraught figure. Palestinian twins Tarzan and Arab Nasser will showcase their latest film Once Upon a Time in Gaza , a tale of murder and friendship set in the war-torn territory, in the Un Certain Regard section. Main competition More than 20 films are competing for the Palme d’Or for best film in a selection that includes some Cannes stalwarts and a new generation of directors.

Here is a selection of issues, stars and films that are likely to dominate on and off the red carpet during the

extravaganza: More MeToo

He has never been a mainstay of the festival and has not made a film in three years, but French cinema legend Gerard Depardieu is likely to be one of the biggest talking points on day one of the festival, especially since the court has handed him an 18-month suspended sentence after he was found guilty of sexually assaulting two women on a film set in 2021. Depardieu’s lawyer said he would appeal the sentence. The film fraternity has received scrutiny since the MeToo movement gained traction and the French actor’s conviction will add to the ongoing discussion. US President Donald Trump From elections to art exhibitions, it is hard to miss the outsized shadow of US President Donald Trump as he cranks up his “Make America Great Again” revolution. The cinema industry is still reeling from Trump’s weekend announcement of 100% tariffs on foreign-made films, casting

Cruise will be at the film festival to promote the final instalment of the Mission Impossible franchise. – AFPPIC

British actor Josh O’Connor will head up the red carpet in two contenders, The History of Sound by South Africa’s Oliver Hermanus and The Mastermind by Kelly Reichardt. Two Iranian films, A Simple Accident by Jafar Panahi and Mother and Child by Saeed Roustaee, will also be closely scrutinised in Cannes and by Iran’s censors. Both filmmakers have faced legal problems and prison terms over their past work. – AFP

Perennial favourites Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, who already have two of the coveted award, return with their latest film Young Mothers – which is about five young women in a maternity home in their native Belgium. Motherhood looks set to be a recurring theme in Cannes, while the Aids epidemic of the 1980s is the backdrop for two in-competition films, Alpha by Julia Ducournau and Romeria by Carla Simon.