During the Cannes Film Festival — where cinema, couture, luxury, and cultural influence merge beneath the Mediterranean sun — few invitations feel as refined and intellectually magnetic as the Kering Women In Motion Talks.
Far from the theatrical intensity of the Palais red carpet, inside the legendary Carlton Hotel, another side of Cannes quietly unfolds.
A softer side.
A more thoughtful side.
A world where artistic conversation becomes the true luxury.
This year, Kering relocated its iconic Women In Motion Talks and cocktail gatherings in Carlton Hotel, instantly elevating the atmosphere into something even more cinematic and Riviera-chic. The legendary palace hotel, overlooking the Croisette and shimmering Mediterranean coastline, became the epicenter of elegant cultural dialogue during the festival.
Inside the private Kering suite, sunlight filtered through tall Belle Époque windows while guests moved gracefully between intimate conversations, champagne receptions, and carefully curated floral arrangements in soft ivory and blush tones. Fashion executives, filmmakers, actresses, producers, journalists, artists, and international creatives gathered in an atmosphere that felt suspended between Parisian salon culture and contemporary Cannes glamour.
The mood reflected Kering perfectly:
quiet luxury infused with artistic intelligence.
Among the most captivating personalities of the afternoon was actress, director, and screenwriter Géraldine Nakache, whose presence brought warmth, authenticity, and emotional depth to the conversation.
Effortlessly elegant in understated French sophistication, Nakache spoke openly about storytelling, directing, vulnerability in cinema, and the emotional honesty required to create meaningful films in today’s world.
Unlike the polished performance often expected inside festival culture, her conversation felt remarkably genuine.
Known for balancing humor, intimacy, and socially conscious narratives throughout her career, Géraldine Nakache represents a new generation of European filmmakers redefining contemporary cinema through deeply personal storytelling.
Inside the Kering suite, the discussion unfolded less like a formal industry panel and more like an intimate exchange between artists passionate about cinema’s future.
Nakache reflected on the importance of creating space for women behind the camera, while also discussing the need for authenticity in filmmaking — creating stories that resonate emotionally rather than simply satisfying commercial expectations.
And perhaps this is precisely what makes Women In Motion one of Cannes’ most respected luxury-cultural initiatives.
Since its launch by Kering in 2015 in partnership with the Cannes Film Festival, Women In Motion has become far more than a branded event series.
It has evolved into one of the festival’s most influential cultural platforms dedicated to highlighting women’s contributions to cinema and advancing gender equality throughout the film industry.
Through talks, mentorship programs, awards, dinners, and international conversations, Women In Motion creates a rare environment where cinema, fashion, creativity, and social impact coexist naturally.
What distinguishes the initiative from traditional luxury activations at Cannes is its emphasis on substance over spectacle.
Of course, glamour remains omnipresent.
Guests arrive in couture tailoring, silk dresses, sculptural jewelry, and Riviera-ready elegance. Champagne circulates effortlessly through the suite while photographers discreetly capture moments between industry icons and emerging creatives.
Yet the true focus remains conversation.
And during a Cannes edition that felt notably more intimate ahead of the festival’s upcoming 80th anniversary, these conversations carried particular resonance.
While Hollywood maintained a lighter presence this year, auteur cinema and international storytelling gained stronger visibility across the Croisette. Still, global stars continued to define the festival’s fashion landscape — including jury member Demi Moore, whose Cannes wardrobe became one of the season’s most discussed style narratives.
Styled by Brad Goreski, Moore appeared in striking looks from Gucci, Jacquemus, and Matières Fécales, reaffirming how fashion houses increasingly use Cannes not simply for visibility, but for cultural positioning.
Luxury brands understand that Cannes is no longer only about celebrity exposure.
It is about identity.
Influence.
Narrative.
Cultural relevance.
And few groups navigate this intersection between cinema and luxury more naturally than Kering.
Beyond red carpet dressing and fashion partnerships, the group continues strengthening its long-term relationship with the film industry through initiatives that connect art, cinema, social dialogue, and creativity inside one ecosystem.
One of the major highlights of this year’s program was the prestigious Women In Motion Awards dinner hosted by François-Henri Pinault, where Julianne Moore received the 2026 Women In Motion Award in recognition of her extraordinary contribution to cinema.
The elegant dinner also marked one of Kering CEO Luca de Meo’s first Cannes Film Festival appearances since stepping into his new leadership role — symbolizing a continued commitment to cinema as part of Kering’s cultural vision.
Yet beyond celebrity arrivals and luxury dinners, the real power of Women In Motion remains its atmosphere.
For many guests attending the talks inside the Carlton Hotel, the experience represented a quieter and more intellectual version of Cannes — one centered not on spectacle, but on artistic dialogue and meaningful exchange.
And within that luminous Riviera setting overlooking the Croisette, Géraldine Nakache perfectly embodied the spirit of contemporary cinema:
intelligent, emotionally fearless, creatively independent, and deeply human.
Because at Cannes — where appearances often dominate headlines — Kering Women In Motion continues to remind the industry that the future of cinema will ultimately belong not only to stars, but to voices capable of inspiring meaningful cultural change.
