French actress Eye Haidara served as host for both the opening ceremony on May 12 and the closing ceremony on May 23 of the 79th Cannes Film Festival, anchoring the event’s highest-profile public moments.
Dual hosting duties are uncommon on the Croisette, where opening nights typically emphasize gala premieres and closing nights crown award winners. Haidara bridged the fortnight with appearances introducing films, honorees, and musical segments on live broadcasts.
Festival organizers selected Haidara for her bilingual stage presence and prominence in French cinema and television. Her assignments included welcoming juries, presenting tributes, and maintaining pacing across lengthy televised programs watched internationally by industry professionals and fans.
Opening night on May 12 set the tone with red-carpet arrivals and the first competition screening buzz. Closing night on May 23 culminated in Palme d’Or announcements that drew global headlines, including Romanian director Cristian Mungiu’s second top prize for Fjord.
Culture writers said Haidara’s visibility throughout the festival underscored efforts to showcase diverse French talent beyond established veteran hosts. Her performances were largely reviewed as assured despite the marathon schedule across twelve days of ceremonies.
Eye Haidara anchored both bookends of the 79th Cannes Film Festival, hosting the May 12 opening and May 23 closing ceremonies that framed the world’s premier cinema gathering.
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Sources:
https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/press/press-releases/the-closing-ceremony-of-the-79th-festival-de-cannes/