Saint Laurent’s Cannes Debut

Everyone has a favorite movie—one of the few certainties in life. In constant bloom, cinema plays a great role in our collective cultural unconscious. Since its inception in 1946, the Cannes Film Festival has stood out for its open-mindedness and open-heartedness to storytelling. This May, the resort town nestled on the French Riviera will welcome three new films presented by Saint Laurent Productions—the first fashion house to take on such a creative pursuit. This new endeavor, envisioned by creative director Anthony Vacarello, gives the luxury brand new and unexpected depths and underscores its deep connection to art and film.

Oscar-nominated French director Jacques Audiard's Emilia Perez, a musical crime comedy, stars rising Argentinian actress Karla Sofia Gascón alongside Selena Gomez and Zoe Saldaña. Gascón plays a Mexican cartel leader who undergoes a sex change to escape the law (a nod at her own identity as a trans woman). Italian director Paolo Sorrentino's Parthenope follows the life of a woman, Partenope, against the charming backdrop of Naples and Capri. The feminine epic portrays the protagonist’s fight for freedom and the many romantic turbulences she faces along the way. Saint Laurent Productions has also collaborated with the master of body horror David Cronenberg to produce The Shrouds, the story of a grieving widower, played by Vincent Cassel, who invents a device that allows him to monitor his deceased wife.

YSL’s love affair with cinema can be traced back to its roots. A cinephile himself, Yves Saint Laurent utilized his passion for the art form as inspiration throughout his career. His iconic Le Smoking tuxedo suit for women, introduced in 1966, was heavily influenced by the aesthetic of old Hollywood legends such as Marlene Dietrich and Katharine Hepburn. But it was celebrated French actress Catherine Deneuve who captured the designer’s heart. With their close bond lasting for nearly half a century, he designed many exquisite pieces for the star. A delicate and playful black-and-white photograph of Deneuve from her 1968 film Heartbeat, directed by Alain Cavalier, served as the official poster for last year’s Cannes Film Festival. 

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With Saint Laurent’s debut at Cannes less than a month away, the house is poised to communicate with its audiences in brand new ways. From tales of self-exploration to ones of lust and uncanny adventure, Saint Laurent will altogether transfigure the identity of a modern fashion brand. 

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The 77th Cannes Film Festival will take place from May 14 to 25, 2024, in Cannes, France.