77 years since the inception of the Cannes Film Festival, the Palme d’Or remains one of the most revered awards in the industry—and one that holds a candle to the sheer breadth of global talent in the arthouse space. Case in point? Last year’s winning picture, Justine Triet’s Anatomy of a Fall, which went on to clinch the Best Original Screenplay at the Academy Awards, or 2019’s phenomenal success of Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite. With such films leading the charge, the industry has also noticed a small yet significant shift. Over the years, more and more foreign language films are consistently submitted for consideration—and the French Riviera has begun to expect a rising number of A-list names from every corner of the world to make their appearance on the famous steps of the Croisette.
From IU’s 2022 debut for the premiere of Hirokazu Koreeda’s Broker and Jennie Kim’s descent on the red carpet for the premiere of HBO’s The Idol to Elaine Zhong and Gong Jun’s double-trouble appearance for the screening of Indiana Jones, the last couple of years have seen a flurry of Asian names and luminaries from adjacent industries arrive in the French town for the festival. For this year’s affair, no less is to be expected. With Peter Chan’s She’s Got No Name set to premiere, we can expect some of the most famed Chinese names to make their entrance, such as Zhang Ziyi, Yang Mi and Li Xian. Meanwhile Ryoo Seung-wan’s I, The Executioner starring Jung Hae-in will see the South Korean actor make his Cannes debut, alongside Yoona of Girls’ Generation.
With the 77th Cannes Film Festival currently in tow, there have since already been standout appearances from the Asian celebrities in the crowd. Making their scintillating debut this year? Thai stars Freen Sarocha and Becky Armstrong—the famous pair who played the loved-up duo in Gap: The Series, both wearing Eman Al Ajlan for the premiere of Emilia Perez. Meanwhile, Elaine Zhong has also made her return to the Cannes circuit—in no less than a strapless Valentin Yudashkin couture gown and a glittering set of Tiffany & Co. jewels.
Below, relive the best fashion moments from the Asian faces in the crowd so far, with only more to come.
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Gong Jun in Thom Browne
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Zhang Ziyi in Polo Ralph Lauren
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Omara Shetty and Anasuya Sengupta
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Yang Mi in Loewe
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Li Xian in Prada
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Yang Mi in Loewe
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Zhang Ziyi in Maison Margiela
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Anasuya Sengupta
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Simone Ashley in Stella McCartney
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Han So-hee in Danielle Frankel
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Jung Hae-in in Dior
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Michelle Yeoh in Bottega Veneta and Mikimoto
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Yoona of Girls' Generation in Qeelin
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Becky Armstrong in Eman Alajlan and Chopard
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Lay Zhang in Qeelin
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Alexa Chung in Jean Paul Gaultier by Simone Rocha
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Elaine Zhong in Valentin Yudashkin couture and Tiffany & Co.
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Freen Sarocha in Eman Alajlan and Chopard
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Soojoo Park in custom Gucci
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Liya Tong and Eddie Peng
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Becky Armstrong in Balenciaga
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Hande Erçel in Balmain
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Wang Qiye
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Aishwarya Rai
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Crystal Zhang in Atelier Versace
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Putri Marino in custom Stellarissa
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Guan Xiaotong in archival Elie Saab
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Ming Xi in Rami Kadi
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Kylie Verzosa in Mark Bumgarner couture
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