STORY: The Cannes Film Festival officially kicked off on Tuesday (May 14) night as celebrities walked the red carpet into the plush Grand Theatre Lumiere to honour Hollywood actor Meryl Streep before settling in to watch this year's opening film, "The Second Act."The cast of the French comedy, including Lea Seydoux and Vincent Lindon, were joined at the opening ceremony by this year's jury, headed by Greta Gerwig.The audience gave a minutes-long ovation for Streep when she took the stage in a simple white gown and black-frame glasses, welcomed by French actor Juliette Binoche in a red dress."You changed the way we look at women in the cinema world," said Binoche, who tried to control her breathing as she cried during the speech. "And yet you are not self-serious, like me."Streep, whose long list of films includes "Death Becomes Her," "Mamma Mia!" and "The Iron Lady," listed off people she wanted to thank, before declaring this year's edition officially open together with Binoche.(Production: Hanna Rantala)