Paris, May 16 (RHC) -- The 76th edition of the Cannes Film Festival kicks off Tuesday at the Grand Théâtre Lumière on the paradisiacal French Riviera, where U.S. actor Michael Douglas will receive the honorary Palme d'Or for his illustrious career.

The red carpet awaits many of the luminaries of world cinema, as well as others with a thirst for success in the industry, while the crowded promenade along the Mediterranean, La Croisette, will be celebrating until May 27.

On this occasion, actress Chiara Mastroianni will play the role of master of ceremony, and therefore the presentation of the jury headed by the award-winning Swedish director Ruben Östlund, double winner at Cannes.

The Official Selection includes 21 films in competition for the Palme d'Or, with Östlund himself as the most recent winner, having won the award last year with the black comedy Triangle of Sadness.

The first film to be presented at the Festival will be Jeanne du Bary, directed by Maïwenn and starring Johnny Depp.

Expectations abound for the reception of the film, in particular for the reception Depp will receive, who is embroiled in controversy due to allegations of domestic violence by his ex-wife Amber Herad, both involved in a highly publicized trial last year, marked by mutual accusations.

Back to the opening ceremony of the 76th Cannes Film Festival, its highlight will come tonight with the tribute to the Oscar-winning Douglas, which actually began two days ago with the screening on the event's website of the unreleased documentary Michael Douglas, the Prodigal Son.

Well remembered for films such as Basic Instinct (1992), Fatal Attraction (1987) and Wall Street (1987), the actor was grateful for the tribute and called it a breath of fresh air to return to the city of the French Riviera, where he first arrived in 1979 with the film The Chinese Syndrome.

As for the expected feature films, the previews of Indiana Jones and the Call of Destiny, the fifth installment of the saga, and Killers of the Flower Moon, by the famous Martin Scorsese, stand out, as well as the presentation of the short film Strange Way of Life, by the award-winning Spanish director Pedro Almodovar.

These two film "gods" will be joined at the Festival by others of galactic lineage, such as American actors Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Harrison Ford and Ethan Hawke.