In pictures: Cannes glamour

1 of 7 Actresses Gong Li, Aishwarya Rai and Laetita Casta were among early red carpet arrivals for the screening of the festival's opening film, Pedro Almodovar's Bad Education.

2 of 7 Spanish film-maker Almodovar (r) was greeted by Kill Bill director Quentin Tarantino, who is heading this year's main competition jury.

3 of 7 British actress Tilda Swinton, star of Orlando and Young Adam, is on the jury which will choose the winner of the Palme D'Or.

4 of 7 Almodovar was joined by the cast of his film to celebrate its status as the opening movie.

5 of 7 Tarantino stepped out alongside fellow director Sofia Coppola, who won this year's best screenplay Oscar for Lost In Translation.

6 of 7 The 57th annual festival was opened by Italian model and master of ceremonies Laura Morante.

7 of 7 French designer Jean-Paul Gaultier posed for photographers with a companion.