Hollywood Popular Artists

Today marks the beginning of the 2012 Cannes Film Festival! As actors, directors and filmmakers head to France over the next two weeks, certain stars are already making their splash. For instance, Sacha Baron Cohen (in character as Admiral General Aladeen) hosted a press conference in Croisette, Cannes' famous promenade, to promote "Dictator." Immediately following he hoisted himself on a camel—albeit with a struggle—and rode away for some shopping. Of course he did.

What an honour to be amongst this group. Here we are doing our press conference. 1st movie tonight. Wes Anderson. twitter.com/mcgregor_ewan/…

— Ewan McGregor (@mcgregor_ewan) May 16, 2012

Also in attendance is Ewan McGregor, who's acting as a judge on the Cannes jury alongside fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier, french actress Emmanuelle Devos and Diane Kruger among others. The festival opens with the Wes Anderson film, "Moonrise Kingdom."

The Bill Murray comedy takes place in the summer of 1965 and follows Suzy and Sam, two 12-year-old lovebirds who flee their home—an island off the coast of New England—and escape into the wilderness. The Sheriff, played by Bruce Willis, begins searching for the kids just as a massive storm approaches, and their once peaceful town is shaken up beyond anyone in the community's control—which might be for the best.

Other films making their debut (and featured on our top 10 must-see list) are David Cronenberg's mind-trip "Cosmopolis" starring Robert Pattinson, the movie adaptation of Jack Kerouac's "On the Road" featuring Kristen Stewart and "Lawless," a southern crime film with Tom Hardy, Shia LaBeouf and Gary Oldman.

Is there a film premiering at the Cannes festival you're excited to see? Let us know in the comments and on Twitter!