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American Morning

55th Annual Cannes Film Festival Kicks Off This Week

Aired May 17, 2002 - 08:56   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Dreams and fantasy are what the 55th annual Cannes Film Festival is about. It kicks off this week, at least according to one die-hard fan that's what it's about, but somehow, the great medium for escape could not escape real world controversy this time around. Filmmaker Woody Allen made his first appearance on the Riviera, in the middle of a controversy all about French anti-Semitism and a call for American Jews for a boycott of the festival.

CNN's Kendis Gibson is there and joins us now for a live report.

Kendis, what's going on?

KENDIS GIBSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Jack, it wouldn't be the French and probably wouldn't be Cannes without some bit of controversy. So course you have that controversy now. The American Jewish Congress called for a boycott, asking many stars to boycott the Cannes Film Festival, which is now in its third day, in part because of what they believe is anti-Semite rhetoric that's going throughout France, ever since Jean Marie Le Pen strong showing in the election last month.

But Woody Allen, who was here on the red carpet, walking like we've rarely seen him before, an American-Jew himself, said that, you know what, he sort of dismissed the boycott. He says that he understand their reason for the boycott, but he doesn't have that sense there is that sort of anti-Semite feeling going throughout much of France right now. But there you see Woody unlike we've rarely seen him before. And this was actually his first appearance here in Cannes at the Film Festival. They've been doing it 55 years now, but take a listen to him about the American Jewish Congress boycott.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WOODY ALLEN, ACTOR: People who would never have voted in years felt it was important to show that France was a Democracy who had no patience for the terrible ideas of the extreme right, and so I think one could be very proud of France.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GIBSON: So Woody making news, and also George Lucas making news here, holding his premiere -- George Lucas making news here as well, holding his premier for "Star Wars" at midnight French time. You know, out in Hollywood, they never would have a premier at midnight but not unusual for that to happen here.

Let's go back to you, Jack.

CAFFERTY: All right, nice assignment. Kendis Gibson, live at the Cannes Film Festival -- Paula.

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