In an industry where longevity is rare and reinvention even rarer, Ning Baizura stands as a force of nature—timeless, fearless, and constantly evolving. More than three decades into her career, she is no longer just the powerhouse vocalist Malaysians grew up with.
38 MAY/JUNE 2026 THRILL
38 MAY/JUNE 2026 THRILL A FESTIVAL BORN FROM POLITICS, BUILT ON PRESTIGE Cannes did not begin as a celebration of glamour. Its origins were political, shaped by a desire to create a film festival free from the ideological influence that affected European competitions in the late 1930s. Though first planned in 1939, it formally launched in 1946, in a post-war world eager to rebuild cultural identity. From the beginning, Cannes positioned itself as a champion of cinema as art. Its top prize, the Palme d’Or, quickly became one of the most prestigious awards in filmmaking, less about box office success, more about artistic significance and cultural impact. And over time, certain winners have come to define entire eras of cinema. In the 1950s, La Dolce Vita captured the shifting mood of post-war Europe. The 1970s saw films like Taxi Driver reflect a darker, more introspective cinematic voice. By the 1990s, Pulp Fiction marked a turning point: bold, selfaware, and unmistakably modern. More recently, Parasite, by Bong Joon Ho, signalled a new global era of cinema, where a distinctly local story could resonate universally, redefining both audience reach and cultural conversation. Over the decades, winners have reflected shifting global conversations. The films did more than win awards. They shaped how audiences understood cinema itself. More recently, Cannes has continued to spotlight films that travel beyond the festival circuit. Anatomy of a Fall (Palme d’Or winner) and Anora have both crossed into mainstream cultural conversation, proving that Cannes films are no longer confined to arthouse audiences. THE KIND OF CINEMA CANNES CELEBRATES Cannes has always leaned towards films that are bold, unconventional and often quietly challenging. These are stories that don’t always follow traditional structure, that explore difficult themes, or that experiment with form. But to describe Cannes films as purely “arthouse” would be too simple. Increasingly, the festival exists in a space between worlds. Alongside intimate, independent films are high-profile premieres from global directors, films that will go on to streaming platforms, awards seasons, and wider audiences.
TROPICANA LIFESTYLE 39 Take Killers of the Flower Moon by Martin Scorsese, which premiered at Cannes before global release, or Top Gun: Maverick, which brought blockbuster energy to the Croisette. Cannes doesn’t reject mainstream cinema. It simply reframes it within a context of artistic conversation. HOW FILMS ARE CELEBRATED At Cannes, the way films are shown matters almost as much as the films themselves. Screenings at the Palais des Festivals are formal affairs. Black ties, evening gowns. They are ceremonies for the act of watching. The ceremony is now equally defined by its red carpet. The steps of the Palais have become one of the most recognisable runways in the world. Over the decades, Cannes has delivered fashion moments that rival the films themselves. Princess Diana’s powder-blue Catherine Walker gown in 1987 remains the blueprint for red carpet elegance. Angelina Jolie’s sculpted Atelier Versace in 2009 redefined modern glamour. Rihanna in 2017, sweeping in Dior couture, and Aishwarya Rai, who turns every appearance into a statement. Here, the red carpet doesn’t follow trends. It creates them. Clockwise from left: Cannes hosts open-air screenings at Macé Beach to bring films to the public; The Palme d’Or trophy stands as Cannes highest honour; Angelina Jolie in Atelier Versace 2009 is modern glamour at its sharpest; The cast and crew of Pulp Fiction celebrating a moment that changed cinema
