At the Cannes Film Festival, Chanel Seeks More Than Red Carpet Credits
PARIS — Chanel's relationship with cinema runs way deeper than the red carpet.
After dressing the likes of Penélope Cruz, Lupita Nyong'o and Lily-Rose Depp for the Oscars, the French fashion house hopes to snag the spotlight again at the Cannes Film Festival — but this time, for films as much as fashion.
More from WWD
How Persol Made Its Red Carpet Play in Cannes
Chanel to Reprise Cruise 2026 Show in Singapore
A View to a Thrill: Duran Duran and Bond Girl Fashions Headline AmfAR Gala Cannes
In recent years, Chanel has expanded its support for cinema, which now encompasses everything from costume design to film restoration, in addition to initiatives geared at fostering the next generation of movie directors.
'Cannes has magnified the red carpet with the climbing of the steps. It's quite unique, but it's not the most important thing. What's most important for us is really the content,' Bruno Pavlovsky, president of fashion and president of Chanel SAS, told WWD.
'The red carpet is a current moment, but a fleeting one, whereas a film is something lasting that demonstrates the house's commitment to this art form. That's why it's important not to focus just on the red carpet,' he added.
In Cannes this year, Chanel is involved in four projects.
The brand created a key look and accessories for Zoey Deutch, who plays actress Jean Seberg in Richard Linklater's 'Nouvelle Vague.' The French-language feature chronicles the making of Jean-Luc Godard's classic film 'Breathless' and the birth of French New Wave cinema.
Underscoring its lengthy relationships with its brand ambassadors, the house will also support Kristen Stewart's feature directorial debut 'The Chronology of Water,' which will have its world premiere as part of the festival's Un Certain Regard section. The actress has been a face of Chanel since 2013.
In addition, it worked with costume designer Virginie Montel on main competition entry 'Eagles of the Republic,' featuring another brand ambassador, Lyna Khoudri.
Lastly, Chanel is backing 'Arco,' French director Ugo Bienvenu's debut animation feature, set to bow in a special screening. His animation and production agency Remembers has worked on short films for Chanel shows, as well as a campaign for its Coco Neige line.
Pavlovsky noted that while Chanel has partnerships with nearly a dozen film showcases worldwide, including the Deauville American Film Festival and the Tribeca Film Festival, its presence in Cannes is more low-key. The event's official sponsors include luxury group Kering, jeweler Chopard and beauty brand L'Oréal Paris.
'When Chanel is present at the festival, it's always in the background. It's either to support a film premiere, or to celebrate an ambassador,' the executive said of Cannes.
As independent films compete for financing in a rapidly evolving landscape, fashion brands have stepped into the breach by becoming producers, cementing their cultural aura and solidifying their relationships with key talents, from actors to directors.
Saint Laurent scored a notable win last year with three films in competition in Cannes. Jacques Audiard's 'Emilia Pérez' scooped the Jury Prize and the joint Best Actress Prize.
LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton last year formed a new division named 22 Montaigne Entertainment in partnership with Superconnector Studios to explore possibilities for its 75 brands, which include Louis Vuitton, Dior, Tiffany & Co. and Moët & Chandon.
Meanwhile, French billionaire François-Henri Pinault's family investment company Artémis in 2023 acquired a majority stake in Creative Artists Agency, or CAA, the powerhouse talent firm whose clients include Zendaya, Brad Pitt and Tom Hanks.
With film ties dating back to the '30s, when founder Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel headed to Hollywood at the invitation of Samuel Goldwyn, Chanel had a headstart on the competition, though it doesn't fancy itself as a mini-studio — for the time being.
'I can't say what the future holds, but right now, our approach is a little different. We're not trying to replace anyone. Our aim is to support talents and filmmakers in their art,' Pavlovsky said.
'That's perhaps the difference between us and other brands' initiatives. There's room for everyone. What's important is to have a strong individual vision that's consistent with our brand values,' he added.
Chanel's first foray into production came in 2014 when it helped to finance 'Clouds of Sils Maria,' a vehicle for Stewart that also starred Juliette Binoche and Chloë Grace Moretz.
The house not only supplied the actresses with clothes, jewelry, accessories and makeup, but also provided a portion of the budget to allow director Olivier Assayas to fulfill his dream of shooting the movie on 35-mm film instead of digitally.
Since then Chanel has collaborated with leading filmmakers including Sofia Coppola, Pablo Larraín and Leos Carax, part of a deep bench of talent cultivated by Elsa Heizmann, its global head of fashion's relationship with cinema.
Formerly global head of VIP relations for 16 years, she was named head of a new dedicated film division at Chanel in 2022. While the house has professionalized its approach to the sector, the process remains organic, with projects funneled through a network of producers, costume designers and PRs, she said.
'Already through VIP relations, we had initiated a lot of relationship development, film support and patronage,' Heizmann told WWD, citing Chanel's support of the Cinémathèque Française.
'By creating this department, the idea was to deepen those relationships and even develop links with people in the film industry that are not necessarily in the spotlight, such as costume designers,' she explained.
'The idea is to respect them, support them and connect them to the brand so that they nourish us. There's a kind of exchange of creativity,' she added. 'Projects come to us very naturally. We turn down very few, because we've spent years developing this ecosystem, this network of people.'
Often the films it backs feature its brand ambassadors, like Larraín's 'Spencer,' starring Stewart as Princess Diana, or Joshua Oppenheimer's musical 'The End' with Tilda Swinton. Typically, Chanel will also provide items for the stars' wardrobes.
Other times the brand's support is invisible, as was the case for Mona Achache's 2023 Cannes entry 'Little Girl Blue,' a passion project for star Marion Cotillard.
The brand produces promotional content, like a short video of film legend Catherine Deneuve in conversation with director Christophe Honoré marking the premiere of their film 'Marcello Mio' at the film fest last year. The following month, Honoré devised the scenography for Chanel's fall 2024 haute couture show at the Paris Opera.
'Each time we work with a director or an actor, it's an exceptional experience that fuels the evolution of the brand,' Pavlovsky said. 'It's always a great shot of adrenaline.'
These free-flowing relationships are inspired by the house's founder, whose welcoming party at the Los Angeles train station in 1931 included Greta Garbo. Chanel would create looks for Hollywood stars like Gloria Swanson, but her impact was most keenly felt in European cinema.
She memorably costumed actresses ranging from Jeanne Moreau in 'Les Liaisons Dangereuses' to Delphine Seyrig in 'Last Year at Marienbad.' Romy Schneider credited the designer for helping her to shed the starlet image she forged by playing Empress Elisabeth 'Sissi' of Austria in a hugely popular trilogy of films in the 1950s.
Chanel met the Austrian-born actress through Italian director Luchino Visconti, who asked the couturier to create the wardrobe for his segment of the comedy anthology movie 'Boccaccio '70,' released in 1962. From then on the house dressed Schneider on- and off-screen.
'Chanel was friends with many talented actresses and directors. She supported Visconti and helped launch the film career of Robert Bresson. He was a young photographer who shot press kits for her, and she later encouraged his ambitions to become a director,' Heizmann recalled.
Likewise, under subsequent creative directors Karl Lagerfeld and Virginie Viard, Chanel has fostered a talent pool that feeds into its image department — something that Matthieu Blazy, who took over as artistic director of fashion activities on April 1, is expected to continue.
'We like to develop these relationships because we love artists and film talents, but we also love to connect them through our events and to generate new projects,' Heizmann said.
For example, after Chanel supported the restoration of 'Paris, Texas' to mark the 40th anniversary of its Palme d'Or prize win at Cannes, Wim Wenders expressed an interest in working with Swinton. The brand gave him carte blanche to direct her in a teaser for its Métiers d'Art show in Hangzhou, China, last December.
A regular presence at Chanel fashion shows, Coppola has also directed several campaigns for the brand, most recently for its cruise show on Lake Como. In turn, the brand worked with the director on 'Priscilla,' creating the wedding dress worn by Cailee Spaeny in the title role of Priscilla Presley.
Rather than faithfully reproduce the dress, Heizmann asked Coppola what she wanted the look to convey. The end result incorporates elements of Chanel's spring 2020 couture collection. 'It was a collaboration with Sofia and her costume designer, and that's what made it interesting,' Heizmann said.
Similarly, it made sense to team with Linklater on 'Nouvelle Vague,' since Seberg wore Chanel in real life. The house worked with costume designer Pascaline Chavanne on looks for the character, as well as singer Juliette Gréco, played by Alix Bénézech.
Deutch, sporting a peroxide pixie cut, appears in a reproduction of an archival bustier dress made of striped taffeta and dotted organza, drawn from the spring 1956 haute couture collection. She's expected to wear Chanel on the red carpet too.
'She's wonderful in the film,' Heizmann enthused. 'The movie doesn't feature any of our brand ambassadors, but [we liked] the theme and the way it was approached. Richard Linklater is a major movie buff.'
Chanel's film activities are part of its overall communications budget, alongside its partnerships with the Paris Opera and the Palais Galliera, the French capital's fashion museum, Pavlovsky said. 'We create more impact today with film, dance and other cultural activities than in the cluttered media and advertising space,' he noted.
'We're not looking for a return on investment. We've been working with directors and actresses for years. They've had huge successes and lesser ones. It depends on the nature of the film: some are more niche, others more mainstream. For us, what matters is the general image they convey,' he added.
Chanel's ties with film have become both a brand trademark and a marketing tool, as with last year's short film in which Brad Pitt and Penélope Cruz reenacted scenes from Claude Lelouch's 1966 movie 'Un homme et une femme' ('A Man and a Woman'). Screened at the fall 2024 runway show, it was the springboard for a handbag campaign.
Pavlovsky happily noted that a still from the cult movie was used for the poster of this year's edition of the Cannes Film Festival. But rather than a vehicle for product placement, he sees Chanel's relationship with cinema as a long-term commitment.
'What I hope is that people who know the sector understand that it's a deep relationship over time, one of support and not appropriation of what cinema represents,' he said.
The efforts are not limited to any particular territory. Chanel supports initiatives worldwide, such as the Tokyo Lights education and mentorship program launched last year in collaboration with Japanese director Hirokazu Koreeda.
It also backs the Atlas Workshops, an industry and talent-development program initiated in 2018 by the Marrakech International Film Festival, and recently inked a new partnership with the Venice Film Festival's Biennale College, a project dedicated to emerging filmmakers.
'It's important for us to be present in each of the major 'Chanel' countries to show that our interest is truly global, but cinema in China is very different from cinema in Japan, South Korea or the U.S.,' he said. 'It's always important to reflect the local culture and vision of film.'
With its current initiatives, Pavlovsky hopes to burnish the brand's myth for decades to come. 'People approach us all the time because of Chanel's association with iconic films of the past, but also of the present. That's the reason we have to continue investing today to create the icons of tomorrow,' he said.
View Gallery
Launch Gallery: A Look Back at Cannes Film Festival Best Dressed Red Carpet Stars
Best of WWD
Cannes Film Festival's French Actresses Whose Iconic Style Shines on the Red Carpet [PHOTOS]
Tailoring Black Style: Celebrating Iconic Black Male Figures in Fashion
Kate Middleton and Prince William's 14 Most Iconic Matching Moments: A Celebration of Style and Love
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
2025 Emmys Documentary Series/Special Predictions
Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Variety chief awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender. As other formal (and informal) polls suggest, competitions are fluid and subject to change based on buzz and events. Predictions are updated every Thursday. More from Variety Emmy Voters: Don't Forget About Zahn McClarnon and 'Dark Winds': He's Your Next Leading Man Short and Sweet: From 'Adolescence' to 'Sirens,' This Season's Best New Shows Are Barely Longer Than a Movie Limited Series Writers on the Impact of Casting, Writing Emotional Journeys, and Finding a Tonal Balance Nonfiction Categories Commentary (Updated: June 5, 2025): This year's races for documentary series, documentary special and hosted nonfiction program showcase an extraordinary range — from athletic greatness to musical legends, from political satire to culinary adventure. The diversity of content is sure to engage and excite our audience. In the documentary series race, the blend of investigative grit and cinematic flair is on full display. FX's 'Social Studies' may be the category's most socially urgent contender, using teenagers to unpack American divisions with intelligence and heart. At the same time, Netflix's 'Simone Biles: Rising' delivers a strikingly intimate look at the Olympic champion's path back to greatness, directed by Katie Walsh. Beyond that, Peacock's 'SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night', a sleek, multi-part retrospective directed by Bao Nguyen, could ride both nostalgia and NBC's campaign muscle into the conversation. Similarly, NBC's 'The Americas,' narrated by Tom Hanks and directed by Alex Burr, blends the grandeur of a nature documentary with a distinctly American perspective. In the documentary special category, HBO Max's 'Pee-Wee as Himself,' directed by Matt Wolf, is a moving tribute to the late actor and artist Paul Reubens. Netflix's 'Will and Harper,' which follows Will Ferrell and his close friend Harper Steele on a road trip after her gender transition, offers a timely and deeply human portrait of friendship and identity. Although it fell short in its Oscar run, the Emmys are more likely to embrace this type of narrative. Meanwhile, Apple TV+ has two major entries: 'Number One on the Call Sheet,' a celebration of Black excellence in Hollywood executive produced by Jamie Foxx and Kevin Hart, and 'Bono: Stories of Surrender,' a theatrical and lyrical one-man show that could resonate with voters who love musical experimentation. Disney+ makes a splash with 'Beatles '64', a fresh take on the Fab Four's first visit to America, and 'Music by John Williams,' a masterfully composed tribute to the cinematic maestro, which could tap into love for the 92-year-old legend. Hulu's 'Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band' hits the sweet spot of rock doc and personal reflection, offering rare behind-the-scenes moments from the Boss himself. The hosted nonfiction race sees familiar faces and fresh perspectives vying for attention. HBO Max's 'Conan O'Brien Must Go' marks the comedian's triumphant return to the Emmy conversation. O'Brien will take on last year's winner, 'My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman' from Netflix, which remains a mainstay. PBS' 'Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr' could earn its usual acclaim for bringing personal ancestry to public consciousness. Also in the mix is CNN's 'Eva Longoria: Searching for Spain,' which mixes cultural pride with culinary exploration. Longoria is a warm and inquisitive host, giving the series crossover appeal. National Geographic's 'Tucci in Italy' does similar work, with actor and Emmy darling Stanley Tucci's refined palette and effortless charm guiding viewers through regional delicacies. And you can never count out Oprah. ABC's 'An Oprah Winfrey Special: The Menopause Revolution' is both educational and socially relevant, advocating for women's health in a format Oprah has long mastered. YouTube's 'Challenged Accepted' is vying for a spot in the Primetime lineup, hosted by former professional cyclist Michelle Khare, which could appeal to younger voters seeking adrenaline and empowerment. Worth noting: Prime Video's documentary 'I Am Celine Dion,' directed by Irene Taylor, will compete in the exceptional merit in documentary filmmaking category, which is expected to have four films in the running, along with 'The Remarkable Life of Ibelin' from Netflix, and 'Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story' and 'Quad Gods' from HBO Max. However, this is a juried category, so it won't be revealed on nomination ballots who is officially in the running. The Emmys eligibility period ends on May 31. Nomination voting runs from June 12 to June 23, with official nominations set to be announced on July 15. Awards Circuit: Emmys!function(){'use strict'; 0!== e= t in r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if( d= strict'; 0!== e= t in r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if( d= strict'; 0!== e= t in r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if( d= !function(){'use strict'; 0!== e= t in r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if( d= !function(){'use strict'; 0!== e= t in r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if( d= The Primetime Emmy Awards, commonly known as the Emmys, are awarded by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS). Established in 1949, these celebrate outstanding achievements in American primetime television. The Emmys are categorized into three divisions: the Primetime Emmy Awards for performance and production excellence; the Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards, recognizing achievements in artistry and craftsmanship; and the Primetime Engineering Emmy Awards, which honor significant engineering and technological advancements. The eligibility period typically extends from June 1 to May 31 each year. The Television Academy hosts the Emmys and has over 20,000 members across 30 professional peer groups, including performers, directors, producers, art directors, artisans and executives. Best of Variety Emmy Predictions: With One Week Until Voting Opens, Declining Submissions Create Tight Acting and Series Races Emmy Predictions: Animated Program — Can Netflix Score Big With 'Arcane,' 'Devil May Cry' and the Final Season of 'Big Mouth?' 2025 Tony Winners Predictions: A Starry, Stacked Broadway Season Sets the Stage for an Unpredictable Ceremony
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
☕️🥐 FC Ptit Dej: Haaland eyes Cherki 👀, Aït-Nouri a big Jul fan 💯
Haaland is keeping a close eye on Cherki 👀 It's written: this duo is going to wreak havoc, and it seems the Cyborg is the first to realize it. While all sources agree that Cherki is set to sign with the Skyblues, nothing is official yet. Still, Erling Haaland already seems eager to play with the French international. On Instagram, the Norwegian liked Fabrizio Romano's legendary "Here we go." Haaland X Cherki, the hype is massive. The brilliant introduction of Rayan Aït-Nouri 😂 We're staying with Manchester City, who are dominating the news these days. While Rayan Cherki's arrival is imminent, Rayan Aït-Nouri's is already official. The Algerian full-back took part in a very friendly introduction video where his honesty and naturalness are a pleasure to see. Fan of JUL and a kebab lover: he's basically the mate we all want to have! Luis Enrique still on cloud nine 🥳 Ten days after PSG's Champions League triumph, the party is still going strong. Passing through Barcelona, Luis Enrique spots some Parisian fans singing the PSG anthem. That's all it takes for him to join the group, resulting in some fantastic footage! A bit of fun for Lucho before getting back to business with the Club World Cup. The must-sees from yesterday 🍿 - 2026 World Cup Qualifiers: Belgium avoids disaster, Italy finally bounces back, Croatia dominates... Advertisement - 🚨 OFFICIAL: Inter's new coach revealed! - Transfer window: OL and Manchester City have reached an agreement for Cherki TV Schedule 📺 8:45 PM: Finland - Poland (L'Équipe Live) 8:45 PM: Netherlands - Malta (L'Équipe Live) 8:45 PM: England - Senegal 10:00 PM: Bolivia - Chile This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here. 📸 CORNELIUS POPPE
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
From Braids to Bows, These Dads Love Doing Their Daughters' Hair
Strider Patton says there's one moment that makes all the hours of perfecting braids and bows and high ponies worth it. "Someone leans down to my daughter and says, 'Wow, your hair looks great today! Did your mommy do it?'" Patton, who teaches fathers how to style kids' hair on his popular @ Instagram account, tells His daughter Imogen was 2 years old at the time. "She turns around and points at me. She says, 'Dad braids.' And I was like, 'Yes! That's it!'" In the three years since that moment, Patton's hair styling skills have improved dramatically. Now he can do lace braids, bubble braids and even a double French high pony. And he has brought almost 250,000 followers on Instagram along for the ride. Patton is one of the many fathers who are taking on hairstyling duties and loving every brushstroke. The growing number of dads who do their daughters' hair with pride speaks to a change in the way fathers view their roles in the family, he says. He doesn't aim for perfection. He aims for presence. "It doesn't matter how bad your hair (styling) is," Patton says. "Your daughter's just going to love that you're there with her." When he was first struggling with his Imogen's hair, Patton searched for hair tutorials online but most featured moms doing their daughters' hair. They sailed too quickly through the basic steps that Patton still needed to learn. So Patton started an Instagram account for dads who didn't know where to begin. He set up a camera and shared videos of him doing Imogen's hair every morning. As a professional artist, he had a more flexible schedule than his wife, who owns a children's theater. "It's just so fun to not be an expert and just be like, 'Hey, I'm just a dad trying to learn how to do this, just like you guys.'" Patton certainly isn't alone on his journey. chatted with several dads who have surpassed their wives' hairstyling skills. And they're not just tooting their own horn — their wives volunteered them for interviews. Shounak Shah, who says his daughter Arya is "6 going on 15," shares that if he lets Arya choose a parent to style her hair, "she would pick me, 100 percent." He jokes, "Mommy is not the styling type." Shah, a physical therapist, will call out to Arya, "It's salon time!" and she sits at a little desk and watches a show while Shah adds product and styles her hair. Dad Jon Studham plays 'Baby Alive' for his 5-year-old while he styles her hair every morning. "I was terrible at first, but she didn't care," he says. "It isn't about getting every strand in place. It's about showing up, being part of her rhythm, building the moments in life that matter and showing she can count on me." He continues, 'One day, she won't need or want me to do her hair. But until then, I'll be there — with a brush, a bow, and all the time she needs.' "I love finding ways to bond with my kids in so many different ways, and doing hair was just one of those creative outlets," says Scott Wormser, who heads up the marketing department at a print shop. He is so adept at doing his 10-year-old daughter Marni's hair that he's even in charge of her styles for dance competitions, which are often difficult and specific ... and must stay intact throughout an energetic routine. "My wife would always try to do a braid on my daughter's hair, and she just wouldn't get it as tight as I could." Wormser laughs, "And I definitely have much more patience than my wife." Patton points out that the sheer number of dads who have taken on hair duty suggests a change in our outlook on modern fatherhood. "For quarter of a million dads out there, it's saying that I care enough to try something new," he says. "It's hard, but it's fun, and it means something. And it gives me a moment, every day, with my girl." Patton sums it up by adding, "At the heart of this, it's really simple: dads want to connect with their daughters, but a lot of us don't always know how. We're better with tools than tea parties, better with our hands than with our feelings. Learning to braid brings those two worlds together." This article was originally published on