Questions and snafus on eve of Cannes Film Festival

By JAKE COYLE
AP Film Writer

CANNES, France (AP) — After two years of the pandemic, the 75th Cannes Film Festival is getting going with a familiar dose of controversy and some new snafus as it readies for its largest gathering on the French Riviera since the 2019 edition. Preparations were in full swing up and down the Croisette on Monday ahead of the festival’s opening Tuesday. The festival is set to open with “The Artist” director Michel Hazanavicius will premiere his zombie film “Z.” But before things even kicked off, the festival had already found plenty of commotion over issues of gender equality. Thierry Frémaux, the festival’s artistic director, defended the slate and says films are chosen solely on the basis of quality.