Louis XV

A leading French art expert is to face trial on charges of forgery for building furniture that he falsely claimed to be from the 18th century and was sold at high prices to buyers who included the Palace of Versailles.

The chateau of Versailles will reopen the private rooms of Queen Marie-Antoinette as part of its ongoing 400th anniversary celebrations.

The restored apartments will reopen to the public on June 27, featuring 100 square metres of luxurious living space where France's last queen played with her children and received friends.

Protests were building on social media and from French filmmakers on May 16 ahead of Johnny Depp's red carpet appearance for the opening of the Cannes Film Festival.

Depp is making his movie comeback at the French Riviera festival with his new film "Jeanne du Barry," in which he plays French King Louis XV.

Johnny Depp's comeback film is full of scandal both on-screen and off, as he tests out his French in the role of King Louis XV.

There were rumors Depp only had a few minutes of screen time in "Jeanne du Barry," which opens the Cannes Film Festival today and has a nationwide release in France.

A record six women directors will compete for the Palme d'Or at Cannes in May, organizers announced on April 13, with the film festival promising a who's who of Hollywood A-listers and award-winning filmmakers.

A Saudi film fund announced  that it is investing in Johnny Depp's new movie, a French period drama in which he plays King Louis XV.

The Red Sea Film Foundation said in a statement that it was backing the new film, "Jeanne du Barry," directed by France's Maiwenn, who also stars in the title role as the famous 18th century courtesan.