Cannes Film Festival 2022: Bérénice Bejo puts on a leggy display in green shorts and draping lace jacket as she steps out at Final Cut photocall

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Bérénice Bejo put on a leggy display as she stepped out at the Final Cut (Coupez!) photocall at Cannes Film Festival after the film's screening at the opening ceremony.

The French-Argentine actress, 45, did not fail to capture attention in a vibrant ensemble as she posed at Festival Palace, or Palais des Festivals, on Wednesday.

She was the picture of elegance in green shorts and a draping green collared jacket embellished with lace flower patterns.

Stunning: Bérénice Bejo put on a leggy display as she stepped out at the Final Cut (Coupez!) photocall at Cannes Film Festival after the film's screening at the opening ceremony

Bérénice, who plays Nadia in Final Cut, gave a flash of her toned pegs through a split at the front of the jacket as she climbed on top of a fence to sit cross-legged to pose for more glamorous snaps.

She completed her sensational ensemble with a pair of gold sandals and wore her brunette tresses in an up-do, while her fringe framed her face.

Bérénice, who is known for playing Peppy Miller in The Artist, accentuated her striking good looks with a light dusting of make-up.

She was joined at the photocall by her Final Cut co-stars Matilda Lutz, Romain Duris and Finnegan Oldfield, and director Michel Hazanavicius.

Incredible: The French-Argentine actress, 45, gave a flash of her toned pegs through a split at the front of the jacket as she climbed on top of a fence to sit cross-legged to pose

Glam: Bérénice, who plays Nadia in Final Cut, did not fail to capture attention in a vibrant ensemble as she posed at Festival Palace, or Palais des Festivals, on Wednesday

Final Cut was chosen to open Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday evening as the star-studded guest list, including Eva Longoria, Lashana Lynch and Julianne Moore arrived took to the red carpet.

Final Cut is a comedy love letter to filmmaking and Z-list zombie movies from the team behind the award-winning The Artist. 

Its director Michel Hazanavicius said it was 'a joyous celebration of film people, which I hope will encourage others to get involved'.

Final Cut was renamed from its original title Z, after Ukrainian protesters noted that the letter Z to some symbolises support for Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine.

Incredible: She completed her sensational ensemble with a pair of gold sandals

Beauty: The star wore her brunette tresses in an up-do, while her fringe framed her face

Bombshell: Bérénice, who is known for playing Peppy Miller in The Artist, accentuated her striking good looks with a light dusting of make-up

One of the first stars to walk the red carpet on Tuesday was Forest Whitaker - the Oscar-winning star of 'The Last King of Scotland' - who picked up the honorary Palme d'Or award at the opening ceremony. 

Forest, 60, is a regular at the festival having won an acting award back in 1988 for his role as jazz legend Charlie Parker in Clint Eastwood's Bird.

'When I came to Cannes, I was acknowledged as an artist for the first time internationally,' he told reporters.

'It really changed my life and the trajectory of my career in some ways, because it allowed me to be seen as an artist and not just a player.'

Stars: She was joined at the photocall by her Final Cut co-stars (L-R) Matilda Lutz, Michel Hazanavicius, Romain Duris and Finnegan Oldfield

Stylish: French star Romain, who plays Remi in Final Cut, showed off his sense of style in black trousers and a black and orange ombre shirt decorated with sparkling palm trees

All smiles: Romain, who is known for starring in Cédric Klapisch's Spanish Apartment trilogy, appeared to be in good spirits as he smiled for snaps 

The 75th annual event kicked off on Tuesday with a star-studded red carpet after two years when it was hampered by Covid-19 restrictions after Cannes was entirely cancelled in 2020 and held under strict health protocols in 2021.

There were an array of TikTok stars on the red carpet this year after organisers sought to refresh their image by partnering with the video streaming platform, which is sponsoring an award for short films. 

The two-week annual event, will also see hotly-anticipated films Top Gun: Maverick and King of Rock 'N Roll' biopic 'Elvis' shown. 

During the opening ceremony, special attention was given to the war in Ukraine  as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the gala opening ceremony as a surprise guest by video link from Kyiv.

Matilda Anna Ingrid Lutz, who plays Anna in Final Cut, looked gorgeous in a stunning green knit dress which she paired with black heels 

Elegant: She captured attention in her eye-catching ensemble, which she styled with gold dangling earrings

Success: Final Cut director Michel Hazanavicius described the film as 'a joyous celebration of film people, which I hope will encourage others to get involved'

'In the end, hatred will disappear and dictators will die,' he told the rapt audience which gave him a standing ovation.

On Wednesday, Hollywood star Tom Cruise will arrive at the film festival for the first time in 30 years as his much-delayed blockbuster sequel Top Gun: Maverick gets its European premiere.

The sequel, long delayed by the pandemic, has been getting warm reviews from critics and gives Cannes a chance to honour Tom, described by festival director Thierry Fremaux as 'someone who is devoted to cinema'.

A host of British stars including Letitia Wright, Joe Alwyn, Idris Elba, Tilda Swinton are also expected to attend this year's festivities. 

First up; The film chosen to open Cannes Film Festival was Final Cut, a comedy love letter to filmmaking and Z-list zombie movies from the team behind the award-winning The Artist

Grinning: Berenice, Romain and Michel were joined by Finnegan Oldfield, who looked stylish in an orange patterned shirt 

Final Cut: (L to R) Matilda Lutz, Raïka Hazanavicius, Jean-Pascal Zadi, Charlie Dupont, Agnès Hurstel, Simone Hazanavicius, Michel Hazanavicius, Yoshiko Takehara, Romain Duris, Berenice Bejo, Finnegan Oldfield, Lyes Salem and Luana Bajrami attend the photocall

In total, some 35,000 film professionals are expected to attend the festival between May 17 and 28, hoping for a return to form for cinema's most glamorous event.

'We are ready. The town hall has just redone everything - the whole place - so we hope it will go well,' said Jeremie Tripet, manager of 'L'Avenue', a bistro just off the main drag known as La Croisette.

One major exception is the absence of Russians, due to the impact of sanctions over the war in Ukraine and a ruling from the organisers that state-linked delegates are not welcome.

China is also expected to have a limited presence due to its continuing Covid restrictions.

Playful: Spanish actress and President of the Camera d'or jury Rossy De Palma poses during a photocall

Stylish: Rossy - who is known for her roles in Pedro Almodóvar's films - stunned in a white co-ord set made up of a blazer and shorts

Chic: Juror Valeria Golino cut a smart figure in a navy midi skirt and a white shirt while Agnès Hurstel flaunted her washboard abs in blue jeans, a black bra and a silver chain top

Good spirits: Valeria, known to English audiences for her role in  Rain Man, flashed a huge grin during the jury photocall

Smart: Venezuelan star Edgar Ramirez looked dapper in a navy jumper and dark trousers at the jury photocall

Fashionable: Benjamin Biolay showed off his sense of style in black jeans and a beige patterned jacket

Group: Jurors Eleonore Weber, Jean-Claude Larrieu, Lucien Jean-Baptiste, Rossy De Palma, Samuel Le Bihan, Natasza Chroscicki and Olivier Pelisson pose during a photocall

Good looks: Benjamin kept it casual in jeans and a T-shirt while Valeria looked effortlessly chic in a floating skirt

Jurors: Eleonore Weber, Jean-Claude Larrieu, Lucien Jean-Baptiste, Rossy De Palma, Samuel Le Bihan, Natasza Chroscicki and Olivier Pelisson pose during a photocall

But otherwise the festival is keen to put the pandemic in the past, with no mandatory masks or health passes this year - and no restrictions to partying.

Film fans can get stuck into the usual feast of new releases and competition entries, braving the festival's famously opinionated crowds, who are never shy about cheering and booing during screenings.

There's a lot of excitement around the Elvis Presley biopic from Australia's Baz Luhrmann, hoping to recreate the buzz he generated when he brought the can-can to Cannes with 'Moulin Rouge!' 20 years ago.

Elvis, playing out of competition, sees newcomer Austin Butler stepping into The King's blue suede shoes. Tom Hanks plays his infamous manager, Colonel Tom Parker. 

Winner: On Tuesday, Forest Whitaker - the Oscar-winning star of 'The Last King of Scotland' - picked up the honorary Palme d'Or award at the opening ceremony

Worthy recipient: Forest looked emotional as he received The Honorary Palme d'Or from Pierre Lescure

Awards: Forest, 60, is a regular at the festival having won an acting award back in 1988 for his role as jazz legend Charlie Parker in Clint Eastwood's Bird

He was shooting a follow-up to his celebrated documentary Mariupolis, about the conflict in Ukraine's Donbas region, when he was reportedly captured and killed.

The main competition also includes exiled Russian Kirill Serebrennikov, who was unable to attend for his two previous nominations due to a politically charged conviction for embezzlement back home.

Fremaux said the festival wanted to lend a hand to 'the Russians who take risks to resist' while offering 'absolute and non-negotiable support to the Ukrainian people'.

The jury charged with selecting the winners this year includes Indian superstar Deepika Padukone and Iran's two-time Oscar-winning director Asghar Farhadi, and is headed by French actor Vincent Lindon.

Stunning: On Tuesday, Eva Longoria, Lashana Lynch and Julianne Moore led the glamour as they attended the screening of Final Cut (Coupez!) amid the opening ceremony of the festival

Surprise guest: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed guests during the opening ceremony of the Cannes Film Festival