The Cannes International Film Festival is officially open. Protesters from the french shobiz industry were invited to walk up the stairs, which they did rather peacefuly, without disturbing the festival protocole, (Gilles Jacob's baby).

It was Pedro Almodovar and his film crew representing Bad Education (La Mala educación) who had the honors of being the first to do the red carpet walk for this 57th edition. Despite the raindrops, the celebrities arriving for the opening ceremony did not cower, but posed for the photographers and responded to interview invitations as they made their way to the Palais entrance, including Laeticia Casta, Max Von Sydow, Jean Paul Gaultier, Marc Tessier (president of FranceTélévisions), Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres (Culture Minister), actors Gérard Jugnot, Jacques Perrin, François Berléand and director Christophe Barratier.

Vincent Perez accompanied by his wife was also spotted posing for the photographers. He is in Cannes promoting the Un Certain Regard opening film from director Léna Fazer entitled Bienvenue en Suisse. And of course, all the jury members paraded up the red carpet while jury president Quentin Tarantino was accompanied by Sofia Coppola.

Laura Morante, Mistress of Ceremony, presented the opening ceremony and jury. A very enthusiastic Tarantino announced: "I love cinema and it's an honour for me to be president at this magnificent festival. VIVE LE CINEMA!!! " It was Pedro Almodovar who had the honours of announcing the 57th edition of the Cannes Festival officially open, and who dedicated the event to the victims of the Madrid terrorist attacks last March. Dim the lights, start the projectors... Bad Education screens opening the festival line up of film discoveries.
This drama intertwines the lives of two 20-year olds played by Fele Martinez and Gael Garcia Bernal, both of whom will flank the Spanish director for the film's red carpet entrance. Garcia Bernal is also in Cannes for Walter Salles' competition feature, Motorcycle Diaries.

Considered Pedro Almodovar's most personal film to date “but not exactly autobiographical”, Bad Education takes a thriller tone as the director intelligently deals with the delicate theme of sexual child abuse, in this case in an ecclesiastical framework. The director's reoccurring focuses on homosexuality and transvestism are passionately brought to the screen in a remarkable screenplay that exposes Gael Garcia Bernal's maturing craft as an actor.