Cannes Film Festival faces criticism as influencers overcrowd the party

Stars are upset that the festival is now overwhelmed by influencers, diminishing its focus on celebrating cinema.

The Cannes Film Festival, long celebrated as a bastion of Hollywood prestige, has found itself at the center of controversy due to an influx of social media influencers and reality TV personalities.

This shift has sparked concerns among the film industry's elite, who feel the festival's exclusive charm is being diluted.

This year's festival saw Hollywood stars like Cate Blanchett, Anya Taylor-Joy, Demi Moore, Emma Stone, and Sienna Miller gracing the red carpet.

However, they were joined by an array of influencers and reality TV personalities, including Love Island stars Molly-Mae Hague, Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu, and Zara McDermott, as well as presenter Rochelle Humes.

A significant presence of models such as Heidi Klum and her daughter Leni, Bella Hadid, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley also added to the mix, leading some to question whether the festival's focus on films is being overshadowed by social media and fashion.

According to The Sun, industry insiders are disgruntled by the change.

One insider remarked, "Cannes has become a circus. You look in one direction and it’s Ekin-Su from Love Island, turn the other way and you see Molly-Mae. It’s not that these celebs aren’t welcome in Cannes, it’s just the Film Festival has lost that Hollywood appeal. Everywhere you turn there is an influencer taking photos. Nothing is exclusive in Cannes any more, it’s a free-for-all."

The source also highlighted the chaos at traditionally exclusive afterparties.

"Campari was chaos not class. They hosted what was billed as an exclusive party in a beach suite but they ended up giving out hundreds of wrist bands. People were barging around on Boulevard de la Croisette (the main drag) and jostling to get in. There’s no glamour when someone’s got a selfie stick out," the source noted.

Kevin Costner, a two-time Oscar winner, was reportedly caught in a throng of influencers outside his hotel, a far cry from the awe Hollywood stars used to inspire.

"Before there would be awe at the sight of Hollywood stars like him. Now ‘guests’ are more interested in how many likes they get. It’s truly depressing that Cannes has come to this," the source added.

Director Shaunak Sen, whose film "All That Breathes" won the Golden Eye Award in 2022, voiced his concerns in an interview with The Quint.

"I have no grudge or issue at all towards anybody going there, whether it be content creators or influencers. The main thing is to try to not displace attention from the central core of the festival, which is cinema. The makers of cinema need to be respected," Sen said.

Despite the controversy, influencers like Molly-Mae Hague and reality TV stars like Kimberley Garner and Evelyn Ellis continue to draw attention with their red carpet appearances, mingling with acting royalty and high society figures.

As the Cannes Film Festival grapples with maintaining its prestigious reputation, it remains to be seen how it will balance its traditional focus on cinema with the growing influence of social media stars.