The Tamesis
There is no such thing as an off-duty moment — at least not during the Cannes Film Festival, where paparazzi are stationed in airport arrivals areas, hotel foyers, waterfronts and anywhere else a celebrity might reasonably be seen during the two-week event.
Yet while the resulting images aren’t as candid as those captured by documentary filmmaker Derek Ridgers in the late 1980s and ’90s, they are often more striking than any red carpet photo: Bella Hadid licking ice cream on the shore of the Plage du Midi in a Hushidar Mortezaie dress patchworked from hijab fabric, or waving from the window of the Hôtel Martinez in lace-up shoes. Versace fall 2003 dresses.
Of course, these casual looks are often as carefully crafted as custom-made gowns, but seeing them in the wild restores a sense of individuality and a red-carpet feel—no matter how unique the Esplanade looks. After all, the red carpet—even with the looming facade of the Grand Théâtre Lumière and its visible procession of photographers—is ultimately a space that is not bound by geography: an interchangeable backdrop replicated around the world.
Scroll through the gallery below to see the best looks from the 2026 Cannes Film Festival photoshoots and premieres.
