CANNES, France — This year’s Cannes Film Festival just got going this week, but it’s already been an attention-grabbing affair, from new rules for its red carpets, nerves about potential U.S. tariffs and the return of Tom Cruise.

That says nothing about the films, expected to be a strong slate as Cannes is seen as increasingly important to the Oscars’ best picture hopefuls.

Cannes opened Tuesday with a starry tribute to Robert De Niro, 49 years after “Taxi Driver” won the festival’s top prize, the Palme d’Or. De Niro used the platform to assail U.S. President Donald Trump, a frequent target of his criticism. He also basked in the adoration of some of film’s elite, including Leonardo DiCaprio and Quentin Tarantino.

Cannes debuted a complex 4K restoration of “The Gold Rush,” one of Charlie Chaplin’s most beloved silent masterpieces, timed to the film’s 100th anniversary. “Our grandfather would be really proud to see this, a hundred years later, to see all you here and interested in seeing the film,” Kiera Chaplin said to a packed screening Tuesday.

Cruise took the spotlight on Day 2 with the latest “Mission: Impossible” installment, “Final Reckoning.” For such a high-flying franchise, Cruise kept his feet on the ground (so far) ahead of the film’s premiere. That kept up with a recent trend — gone are the days of fighter jet flyovers, Jerry Seinfeld in a bee costume and other big stunts.

Thursday, news broke that the festival had barred French actor Théo Navarro-Mussy from attending the premiere of the competition entry “Case 137” in what’s believed to be a first for the festival in the #MeToo era. Navarro-Mussy has been accused of rape in a case that remains on appeal.

Friday, Bono premiered his documentary, “Bono: Stories of Surrender.” In a wide-ranging interview, the rock star talked about the insights the project has given him (including a deeper appreciation for his late father), his concerns about the dismantling of USAID and his first impression of Pope Leo XIV.

Ari Aster also debuted his COVID-19-era film “Eddington” to mixed reviews.

One of the buzziest moves by Cannes this year so far has been its proclamation that nudity is banned by festivalgoers and so too are “voluminous” outfits, in particular those with a large train. The move comes amid the “naked dress” trend on red carpets.