Cannes at standstill as stars turn out for start of festival

Hundreds of film fans brought the French town of Cannes to a standstill last night as they tried to catch a glimpse of the stars on the red carpet.

Wes Anderson’s new film, Moonrise Kingdom, officially opened the festival.

The film, set in New England in the summer of 1965, revolves around the story of two 12-year-olds who fall in love, make a secret pact and run away together into the wilderness.

Fans cheered as they caught sight of some of the film’s well-known names, which includes Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, and Tilda Swinton.

Earlier, Murray wore an eccentric green checked jacket with clashing checked shirt for the Press conference but switched to a more dapper look for the screening. Blonde-haired Swinton, who plays a social worker in the film, dazzled in a floor-length soft pink gown.

The red carpet experience may have been a bizarre one for newcomers Kara Hayward and Jared Gilman who make their first appearances on the silver screen in Moonrise Kingdom.

Fans were also in raptures just before the cast’s arrival as the Cannes jury walked the red carpet. Ewan McGregor, who is part of the nine-strong panel, was cheered as he stood at the top of the steps to Palais des Festivals and gave them a wave.