Dakota Johnson stuns in a strapless pink tassel dress as she joins glamorous Adria Arjona at Cannes Film Festival’s star-studded Highest 2 Lowest premiere

The big names were out in force for Cannes Film Festival’s star-studded Highest 2 Lowest premiere held in the south of France on Monday night.

Dakota Johnson led the glamorous arrivals to the iconic red carpet in a strapless pink tassel dress which was the epitome of elegance. 

The actress, 35, looked sensational in the tiered number which she accessorised with statement earrings while styling her brunette locks into a straight, glossy style.

By her side was her Splitsville co-star Adria Arjona who wowed in a light green sating gown and silver Tiffany necklace.

Adria later posed with her partner Jason Momoa who wore a smart white suit, with the couple looking as loved-up as ever.

Model Stella Maxwell also made another red carpet appearance as she dazzled in a deeply plunging black sequin gown. 

The big names were out in force for Cannes Film Festival’s star-studded Highest 2 Lowest premiere held in the south of France on Monday night: Dakota Johnson

Adria Arjona who wowed in a light green sating gown and silver necklace at the premiere on Monday

Dakota led the glamorous arrivals to the iconic red carpet in a strapless pink tassel dress which was the epitome of elegance

Jameela Jamil also made a statement in a light green sequin gown which she wore with a statement ruffled shawl.

Highest 2 Lowest is directed by Spike Lee and follows the story of a music mogul who faces a life-and-death moral dilemma when he gets caught up in a ransom plot. 

It stars Denzel Washington, Ilfenesh Hadera, Jeffrey Wright, Ice Spice (in her film debut), and ASAP Rocky. 

This year’s Cannes Film Festival is taking place in the wake of Trump’s vow to enact tariffs on international films.

Cannes, where filmmakers, sales agents and journalists gather from around the world, is the Olympics of the big screen, with its own golden prize, the Palme d´Or, to give out at the end. 

Filmmakers come from nearly every corner of the globe to showcase their films while dealmakers work through the night to sell finished films or packaged productions to various territories.

‘You release a film into that Colosseum-like situation,’ says Brazilian director Kleber Mendonça Filho, who’s returning to Cannes with ‘The Secret Agent, a thriller set during Brazil’s dictatorship. 

‘You’ve got to really prepare for the whole experience because it’s quite intense – not very far from the feeling of approaching a roller coaster as you go up the steps at the Palais.’

Trump sent shock waves through Hollywood and the international film community when he announced on May 4 that all movies ‘produced in Foreign Lands’ will face 100 percent tariffs.

The White House has said no final decisions have been made. Options being explored include federal incentives for U.S.-based productions, rather than tariffs. But the announcement was a reminder of how international tensions can destabilize even the oldest cultural institutions.

The actress, 35, looked sensational in the tiered number which she accessorised with statement earrings while styling her brunette locks into a straight, glossy style

She showed off the movement of the gorgeous dress as she twirled 

She was the epitome of confidence

Adria later posed with her partner Jason Momoa who wore a smart white suit

The couple were looking as loved-up as ever

They went public with their relationship in May 2024

They packed on the red carpet PDA

While Dakota Johnson and Adria don’t star in the film they are in Cannes for their film Splitsville

Dakota has had a busy few days with photocalls in Cannes

She wore statement silver earrings 

And posed up a storm for the cameras

She worked all her best angles on the red carpet

The tassel detailing added an element of glamour

Dakota Johnson, Ro Donnelly, Adria Arjona and Michael Angelo Covino

Dakota owned the red carpet as always

Director Spike Lee and lead role Denzel Washington posed together

Highest 2 Lowest is directed by Spike Lee and follows the story of a music mogul who faces a life-and-death moral dilemma when he gets caught up in a ransom plot

It stars Denzel Washington, Ilfenesh Hadera, Jeffrey Wright, Ice Spice (in her film debut), and ASAP Rocky (seen)

ASAP looked smart in a black suit

Spike stood out from the crowd in his suit

ASAP showed off his sense of style

The Cannes Film Festival originally emerged in the World War II years, when the rise of fascism in Italy led to the founding of an alternative to the then-government controlled Venice Film Festival. 

In the time since, Cannes´ resolute commitment to cinema has made it a beacon to filmmakers. Countless directors have come to make their name.

This year is no different, though some of the first-time filmmakers at Cannes are already particularly well-known. 

Kristen Stewart (The Chronology of Water), Scarlett Johansson (Eleanor the Great) and Harris Dickinson (Urchin) have all unveiled their feature directorial debuts in Cannes´ Un Certain Regard sidebar section.

Many Cannes veterans have returned, including Tom Cruise (Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning), Robert De Niro – who received an honorary Palme d´Or 49 years after Taxi Driver premiered in Cannes – and Quentin Tarantino, who paid tribute to low-budget Western director George Sherman.

Meanwhile Scarlett’s directorial debut Eleanor The Great, will be unveiled on May 20.

However, in the wake of his legal battle with former co-star Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni is not expected to attend. 

Over recent years the star-studded extravaganza has arguably won more attention for the outfits worn by its celebrity guests than the roster of feature films being screened on the Croisette. 

But new nudity rules, devised for ‘the sake of decency,’ have been implemented at this year’s festival.  

According to organisers, the austere move is an attempt to stifle the celebrity trend for ‘naked dresses’ – namely provocative outfits that reveal considerably more than they conceal – on the red carpet.

‘For decency reasons, nudity is prohibited on the red carpet, as well as any other area of the festival,’ states a Cannes festival document.

‘The festival welcoming teams will be obligated to prohibit red carpet access to anyone not respecting these rules.’ 

The surprise new policy features in a recent festival-goers charter – released with a series of outlines regarding expected public behaviour. 

Guests are expected to converge on the Grand Auditorium Louis Lumière for some of the highest profile film screenings across a packed two-week schedule in Cannes. 

It’s understood that the iconic venue now adopts a more conservative dress code, with suits, dinner jackets and floor-length evening gowns generally favoured over headline grabbing ensembles. 

Classic little black dresses, cocktail dresses, pant-suits, dressy tops and elegant sandals, ‘with or without a heel’, will also be permitted.  

While the decision to implement a more stringent policy will be a first, it is not known if French TV broadcasters, wary of airing nudity, played a role in its enforcement. 

Model Stella Maxwell also made another red carpet appearance as she dazzled in a deeply plunging black sequin gown

She showed off plenty of cleavage in the daring dress

She wore a statement silver and blue necklace

She showed off her incredible figure

And opted for flawless makeup

The dress had a backless design

She wore her long blonde hair pulled back

Jameela Jamil also made a statement in a light green sequin gown which she wore with a statement ruffled shawl

She posed up a storm in her eye-catching dress

She adjusted the dress for the perfect shot

Leomie Anderson wore a risky sheer silver dress

Recently attracting more models and influencers than actors and filmmakers, the annual ceremony has seen an increase in risqué red carpet fashion statements

She wore her dark tresses pinned up

French football player Paul Pogba and his partner Zulay also attended the premiere

Carla Bruni was at yet another premiere and wore a long blue lace gown

She is a regular at Cannes

The dress featured a halterneck design

Shauna Robertson and Edward Norton at the Highest 2 Lowest premiere

The pair looked as loved-up as ever 

Director Spike Lee and his wife Tonya Lewis

Anna Chibisova attends the Highest 2 Lowest red carpet

Patricia Noworol wore a leggy orange dress

Paul Pogba poses on the red carpet during arrivals for the screening of the film Highest 2 Lowest

Christopher Aleo and Simona Jakstaite looked glamorous together

Frederique Bel wore a black lace gown

French football player Paul Pogba and his partner Zulay Pogba

ASAP stars in the new film

He was without his partner Rihanna

A$AP Rocky and Denzel Washington

Denzel is the lead role in the film

He wore a smart suit with casual white shoes

French professional footballer Jules Koundé on the red carpet

Major red carpet events, including the Cannes Film Festival, are aired in France by France Télévisions

Recently attracting more models and influencers than actors and filmmakers, the annual ceremony has seen an increase in risqué red carpet fashion statements. 

In 2021, American supermodel Bella Hadid bared her cleavage in a  plunging black gown while attending a screening of Tre Piani (Three Floors).

She pulled a similar stunt three years later, with guests at the 2024 gala left speechless after she attended the premiere of Donald Trump biopic The Apprentice completely braless beneath a sheer brown evening dress. 

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