Netflix row rumbles as Cannes kicks off

The Cannes Film Festival kicked off with its traditional lashings of glamour on May 17, despite a row over U.S. streaming giant Netflix overshadowing the 70th birthday of the world's biggest cinema gathering.

Will Smith and Jessica Chastain, who are both on the jury charged with awarding the coveted Palme d'Or top prize, were among the A-listers gracing the red carpet at a glittering ceremony to launch the 12-day festival in the palm-fringed French resort. 

Susan Sarandon wore a deep plunging black velvet gown with oversized sunglasses, while Julianne Moore was resplendent in red feathers. Chinese actress Fan Bingbing, who is also on the jury, wore a sweeping duck-egg blue dress with a built-in cloak.

"I wish you 12 days full of enthusiasm," Oscar-winning Iranian director Asghar Farhadi said as he declared the festival officially open alongside French-American actress Lily-Rose Depp, daughter of Hollywood star Johnny Depp. "Twelve days to discover films that make you think about the human condition today. Welcome to the 70th Cannes festival." 

The festival got off to a rocky start earlier May 17 as Spanish director Pedro Almodovar, head of the jury, fired a warning shot at Netflix, declaring that the movie taking home the Palm d'Or should be shown in cinemas.
Netflix has refused to release its two movies in the running for the prize in French cinemas due to strict rules that mean subscription services cannot offer films for streaming until three years after their box-office release. The row has divided the cinema industry and sparked soul-searching over its future.

Almodovar took a tough line, telling reporters he could not imagine "the Palme d'Or nor any other prize being given to a film, and then not being able to...