HOLLYWOOD—Celebrities from Hollywood are flocking to the Cannes Film Festival which is taking place from May 14 through May 25. In the sun-soaked French Riviera, it is where the world’s most high-profile directors premiere the movies that they hope will excite critics and viewers, and if they are lucky will win awards.

Back in 2002, the Cannes Film Festival was called the International Film Festival, which is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres, including documentaries from all over the world. It was founded in 1946, the invitation-only festival is held annually (usually in May) at the Palais des Fesivals et des Congres. It is one of the big three film festivals, alongside Venice Film Festival and Berlin International Film Festival. This year Mexican filmmaker Alejandro Gonazalez Inarritu has been named the jury president.

Cannes is the place where celebrities appear in opulent gowns and priceless jewels to daily red carpet premieres. Selena Gomez showed up in a jaw-dropping gown in a sleek white dress with a thigh-high slit. The actress showed up at the premiere of one of the movies that will sure make headlines.”The Dead Don’t Die,” her upcoming movie alongside Adam Driver, Bill Murray, and Tilda Swinton, among others. The 26-year-old “Wolves” singer wore a Louis Vuitton slit dress along with Bulgari diamonds.

You might recall, Selena was hospitalized back in October 2018 for anxiety and depression. The month before that she announced she was taking a break from social media. The film is a comedy-horror directed by Jim Jarmusch. The movie boasts “the greatest zombie cast ever disassembled,” finds police officers Bill Murray, Chloe Sevigny and Adam Driver and a morgue expert Tilda Swinton attempting to keep the humdrum town of Centerville safe from a horde of zombies, including Iggy Pop, Sara Driver and Carol Kane.

Another movie to watch for is “Little Joe.” The film is about a genetically engineered crimson flower plant causing changes in living creatures. It stars Emily Beecham and Ben Whishaw, and as one of two BBC and BFI- backed films at this year’s event. Austrian director Jessica Hausner is one of only four female directors up for the top prize this year, including Celine Sciamma for her “Portrait of a Lady on Fire.” The prestigious Palme d’Or has been bestowed upon 71 male directors… but only two female directors.

Another movie, competing for the Palme d’Or is “Atlantics,” directed by Mati Diop. While female directors have often been overlooked in the competition, black female filmmakers have been absent entirely. Mati Diop, becomes the first-ever woman of African descent in the Cannes competition. In the suberb of Dakar, the lover of Ada disappears by boat in search of greater opportunities in Europe.

We have “Rocketman,” a musical fantasy about the fantastical human story of Elton John’s breakthrough years. The film will be released in theatres on May 31. The movie is directed by Dexter Fletcher and stars Richard Madden, Taron Egerton, Bryce Dallas Howard, Jamie Bell and others. Fletcher, stepped into the breach of another rock biopic-2018’s “Bohemain Rhapsody,” after Bryan Singer was fired from the project. This movie is produced by Elton John, alongside his husband David Furnish, Adam Bohling, David Reid, Matthew Vaughn.

The life of charismatic and often-troubled entertainer, Diego Armando Maradona, will be brought to the big screen in “Maradona.” The self-titled documentary abot the Argentine footballer is the latest work of Asif Kapadia, who won an Oscar for his 2016 feature on the late singer Amy Winehouse. He also directed the 2011 film about the life and death of Brazilian motor-racing champion Ayrton Senna.

Last but not least is, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.” The movie stars Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie and Leonardo DiCaprio. It is directed by Quentin Tarantino. Tarantino’s film, set in 1969 against the backdrop of the Manson murders, stars Pitt as the stuntman for a Hollywood actor (reportedly based on Burt Reynolds) played by Leonardo DiCaprio, and Robbie as the tragic late actress Sharon Tate. Tarantino has apparently been buried in the editing studio for months and wanted to deliver the newly-finished product on old school 35mm film.

Rose’s Scoop: “Once Upon a Time” will premiere on Tuesday, May 21, exactly 25 years to the day since another one of his creations, the 1994 Palme d’Or-winning “Pulp Fiction.” It was first shown by the French Riviera. If it wins that would be a truly Hollywood ending.