James Franco is back at Cannes for a third consecutive year, attending the opening ceremony with girlfriend Izabel Pakzad in black-tie looks.
James Franco made a striking return to the spotlight at the Cannes Film Festival, showing up again for a third year in a row alongside his longtime girlfriend, Izabel Pakzad, as the festival opened in Cannes, France.
The 48-year-old actor attended the Tuesday (May 12) opening ceremony with Pakzad, and the couple quickly drew attention on the red carpet. Both posed together in coordinated black-tie outfits, smiling as cameras rolled.
This latest appearance follows a long, eventful chapter in Franco’s relationship with Cannes.. He had previously attended many times over the years. including in 2013. when he came to the festival to promote his film As I Lay Dying.. That project was one of Franco’s deeper creative investments at the time: he directed the movie. co-wrote it. and also starred in it.
After his 2013 Cannes run, Franco stepped away from the festival for a lengthy stretch. The report noted that he took an 11-year break amid numerous accusations involving sexual misconduct and other behavioral concerns, a period that reshaped public conversation around him.
In the years since, Franco has returned to acting, with recent work landing largely in direct-to-video releases. His ongoing comeback also includes upcoming roles, including the fact that he is set to play Fidel Castro in the upcoming film Castro’s Daughter.
He is also building momentum behind the camera. Franco has assembled a star-studded cast for The Long Home, a movie he is directing, signaling that his focus is not only on acting but also on leading major projects.
Notably, the Cannes return is now consistent: Franco and Pakzad attended the festival together in 2024 and again in 2025, and now they are back for 2026 on the red carpet once more. Their return this year suggests a renewed comfort with the festival circuit after years away.
For this appearance, the styling details were part of the story as well. The report states that Franco was wearing a Giorgio Armani tuxedo, matching the formal atmosphere of Cannes’ opening-night look.
As the festival continues, audiences will be watching not just for premieres and premieres’ buzz, but also for how familiar faces like Franco reappear on the Cannes stage—this time with Pakzad by his side.
James Franco Cannes Izabel Pakzad Cannes opening ceremony As I Lay Dying Castro’s Daughter The Long Home Giorgio Armani tuxedo