Director and cast members pose on the red carpet before the world premiere of U.S. director Ron Howard's film 'The Da Vinci Code' at the 59th Cannes Film Festival May 17, 2006. Sidney Poitier officially opened the 59th Cannes Film Festival as the cast of "The Da Vinci Code" led a galaxy of stars bringing glitz and glamour to the French Riviera. "As I stand here in this atmosphere where the genius of so many of the world's great cinema auteurs still lingers, I am honoured in the extreme and privileged beyond words to welcome the present generation .. who will surely come with a genius of their own," the 79-year-old actor told the opening ceremony. Earlier "Da Vinci" director Ron Howard and co-stars Tom Hanks and French actress Audrey Tautou -- dressed in an off-the-shoulder, white mini dress and high, silver sling-backs -- set the cameras whirring as they gathered on the Cannes Croisette. Thousands of people had gathered behind carefully guarded barriers craning for a glimpse of the stars, including the members of the Cannes jury headed this year by Hong Kong director Wong Kar Wai. Other celebrities on the red carpet were Italian actress Monica Bellucci, in a shimmering classic long black dress, Britain's Helena Bonham-Carter and her husband Tim Burton. Wong addressed the opening of the festival in Chinese saying he was very flattered to be in Cannes, and wishing everyone a "bon festival". Earlier arrivals included Samuel L. Jackson, Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi, in a stunning red dress with a long fan train, Andie MacDowell and directors Gus Van Sant and David Cronenberg. French actress Juliette Binoche, wearing an apricot dress, arrived arm in arm with Poitier.   (Agencies)

当《达芬奇密码》的演员及群星们先后踏上红地毯，西尼·波伊提尔开始宣布第59届戛纳电影节正式开幕，法国城市里维埃拉也因众星的到来而璀璨生辉。 79岁的老演员波伊提尔在开幕式上说：“在此，我无比荣幸的向新一代电影导演们表示欢迎，虽然世界级老牌导演们的佳作仍占一席之地，但新人们一定能创造出属于自己的辉煌。” 当《达芬奇密码》的导演荣恩·霍华德及影片的联袂主演汤姆·汉克斯和奥黛丽·塔图出现在克鲁瓦塞特宫（戛纳电影节举行开幕式和闭幕式的地方）时，照相机的“喀嚓”声便开始响个不停。女主角奥黛丽·塔图身穿白色露肩迷你裙和银色高跟后挑空式凉鞋亮相红地毯。 为了一睹明星们的风采，成千上万的人们聚集在红地毯周围的护栏外翘首以待。戛纳电影节评审委员会成员也在红地毯上接受“检阅”，中国香港导演王家卫将担当本届评委会的主席。 同时亮相红地毯的明星还有身着泛光黑色晚礼服的意大利女演员莫尼卡·贝鲁奇，英国演员伦娜·邦汉-卡特和她的丈夫蒂姆·波顿。 王家卫导演在开幕式上用中文致辞。他说，能出席戛纳电影节，他感到十分荣幸，同时祝愿在场每个人“电影节快乐”。 较早抵达的明星还有塞谬尔·杰克逊、身着红色扇形拖地华丽长裙的中国女演员章子怡、安迪·麦克道尔以及导演古斯·范·森特和大卫·克伦伯格。 法国女星茱丽叶·比诺什一袭杏黄色长裙，与波伊提尔携手亮相。 (英语点津姗姗编辑)