IT was widely regarded as the most prestigious film festival in the world – in part due to its exclusivity.
But Cannes appears to have lost its magic as models, TV stars and wannabes descend on the red carpet once reserved for Hollywood’s elite.
While actors including Scarlett Johansson, Johnny Depp, Natalie Portman and Leonardo DiCaprio were in attendance at the 76th annual festival, models and C-listers turned the event into their very own catwalk.
After it kicked off in the South of France last week, an insider said: “Cannes has made the careers of huge filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino.
“But more recently it has become a circus for the rich and famous who make their money with their looks not their movies.”
Russian supermodel Irina Shayk, 37, shocked fans when she arrived at a party thrown by British Vogue in a sheer Gucci bodystocking revealing her black lace underwear.
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Earlier in the week, Irina — who has a daughter with actor Bradley Cooper — wore a racy, bandage-style leather top and matching skirt to the premiere of Firebrand.
Alicia Vikander, 34 — who stars as Catherine Parr, the sixth wife of Henry VIII in the film — looked elegant in a pastel-peach embroidered dress, but it was Irina who became the talk of the red carpet.
Desperately clinging on to her 15 minutes of fame after dating rapper Kanye West last year, Julia Fox, 33, opted for her raciest outfit yet to attend the Art of Elysium’s 25th anniversary gala.
The model pulled on an abstract, glass-like halter top that exposed her breasts and a dramatic, tiered white maxi skirt.
Meanwhile, former Made In Chelsea star Kimberley Garner, 32, kept the less-is-more theme going at the same bash — one of many thrown in Cannes to coincide with the festival — in a white bandeau top and tight, thigh-split skirt.
Our insider added: “Cannes was once the world’s most prestigious and glamorous event, with A-list film stars on every corner. Cannes is losing that magic that made it so special.”
Love Island host Maya Jama, 28, was also spotted in the French city where she was a VIP guest at the Vanity Fair x Prada Party.
The TV star opted for a white bralet-style lace dress with a daring slit that left little to the imagination.
Even singer Tallia Storm, influencer Chloe Lecareux and Strictly Come Dancing 2019 contestant Emma Weymouth landed invites to the festival.
The socialite was snapped at the Club Zero premiere.
The more famous faces to attend the festival were singer Nicole Scherzinger and supermodels Naomi Campbell, Eva Herzigova and Gigi Hadid, who looked classy in a taupe bandage
frock and diamonds at the Firebrand premiere.
Our insider added: “Cannes is becoming a circus for the self-serving, not the place where cinema history is made. They banned selfies in 2018 to try to stop the decline in standards but it seems it’s too far gone now.”
Since it launched in 1946, Cannes Film Festival has show-cased some of the world’s best cinema.
This year, 156 movies will be presented over the 12-day celebration, including Johnny Depp’s Jeanne du Barry, Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny and Ken Loache’s The Old Oak.
Of these 156, 21 feature films — including the three above — are in the running for the Palme d’Or, the highest prize awarded at the festival.
Introduced in 1995, previous winners include Jane Campion’s The Piano, Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite and Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction.
THE FILMS (just in case you might be interested)
THE 76th Cannes Film Festival has already seen both standing ovations and disappointing slow claps.
The Sun’s film critic Dulcie Pearce looks at some of the movies making the news this year.
KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON
This three-and-half hour epic about the brutal murders of the oil-wealthy Osage Nation indigenous peoples in Oklahoma is from Martin Scorsese.
The veteran director, along with stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro and Lily Gladstone received a nine-minute standing ovation.
JEANNE DU BARRY
Scandalous story of Jeanne Vaubernier, a working-class woman using her charm to climb the social ladder stars the, also scandalous, Johnny Depp.
His performance received a seven-minute standing ovationbut many critics have widely panned the performance, calling him “a nonentity” in the movie.
INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY
The long-awaited new film from the Indiana franchise sees 80-year-old Harrison Ford as the daredevil archaeologist racing to retrieve a legendary dial that can change the course of history.
Also starring Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Indy’s goddaughter, it has been dubbed “goofy and laborious” and “simulated and forced” by critics.
MAY DECEMBER
Natalie Portman researches the life of Gracie, played by Julianne Moore, who had a relationship with a man 23 years her junior.
The Todd Haynes film received a six-minute standing ovation after its premiere, with one critic calling it “devilishly entertaining.”