The red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival has been nothing short of legendary. We’ve seen Jennifer Lawrence, Pedro Pascal, Emma Stone, and even Tom Cruise making their grand entrances on the Croisette.
But as the festival unfolds, the biggest “main character energy” isn’t coming from the actors on screen—it’s coming from the stars stepping behind the lens for the very first time.
This year, a trio of Hollywood heavyweights—Kristen Stewart, Scarlett Johansson, and Harris Dickinson—have traded their scripts for director’s chairs, proving that they are just as formidable behind the camera as they are in front of it.
Kristen Stewart kicked things off with her long-awaited adaptation of Lidia Yuknavitch’s memoir, The Chronology of Water. The Twilight alum was visibly emotional as she was introduced by festival head Thierry Frémaux.
In classic K-Stew fashion, she kept her introduction raw and real. After thanking her hardworking cast and crew, she told the audience, “Now let’s rip off the band-aid and watch this fucking movie.”
The “band-aid” removal was a massive success, with critics calling the film “art at its finest.” Stewart jokingly told the New York Times that she was surprised “everyone is being so nice” and playfully asked for people to “come for [her] just a little bit.”
Not far behind was Marvel icon Scarlett Johansson, who brought her debut feature, Eleanor the Great, to the Un Certain Regard section. Starring the legendary June Squibb, the film follows a Florida retiree who finds a new lease on life in New York City.
The screening was easily one of the hottest tickets in town. Rumor has it that over people were turned away at the door of the Debussy Theatre!
Johansson, who arrived at the festival just days after hosting Saturday Night Live, was joined by her husband, Colin Jost, and actor Adrien Brody. The film earned a thunderous -minute standing ovation, solidifying Scarlett’s status as a director to watch.
Meanwhile, internet boyfriend and rising star Harris Dickinson returned to the festival that made him a household name with Triangle of Sadness. This time, he debuted Urchin, a devastating and experimental look at homelessness in London.
While Dickinson is currently preparing to play John Lennon in Sam Mendes’ upcoming Beatles biopics, his directorial debut has fans wondering if he’ll find enough time to stay behind the camera.
It wasn’t just the established stars making noise, either. The “scorchingly hot” biker BDSM drama Pillion, starring Alexander Skarsgård and Harry Melling, has become an instant social media sensation.
Directed by newcomer Harry Lighton, the film currently boasts a perfect % on Rotten Tomatoes. TikTok is already bracing itself for the “hot-and-heavy” scenes between Melling and Skarsgård, which are sure to fuel countless GIFs and fan edits.
Other standout debuts included Charlie Polinger’s The Plague and Valery Carnoy’s Wild Foxes, both of which have been praised for their visceral, high-intensity storytelling.
While big-budget premieres like Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning provide the spectacle, these first-time directors are providing the soul of the festival.
In an era of endless franchises, these stars are taking a massive risk to showcase their unique visions—and based on the standing ovations and rave reviews, that risk is paying off beautifully.
