CANNES WATCH: Karlie Kloss stuns, Andie MacDowell reveals
By The Associated Press, Associated Press
May 21, 2015 6:53 PM CDT
Model Karlie Kloss poses for photographers upon arrival for the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS benefit at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, during the 68th Cannes international film festival, Cap d'Antibes, southern France, Thursday, May 21, 2015. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)   (Associated Press)

CANNES, France (AP) — Day Nine at the Cannes Film Festival showed off model Karlie Kloss' figure in a slinky little Tom Ford number, while actress Andie MacDowell revealed why she never showed up at Cannes in 1989 with her hit film "Sex, Lies and Videotape." And a film honoring designer Oscar de la Renta showed that he may be gone, but his influence at Cannes is still strong.

___

CANNES LOOK OF THE DAY:

Model Karlie Kloss gave celebrity guests at the amfAR annual charity gala more than a run for their money in the style stakes, wearing a slinky diamante-encrusted halter neck cocktail gown with sensually large arm holes by Tom Ford.

The 6-foot former ballerina towered above the petite actress Eva Longoria as they posed for cameras together, before gracefully greeting her dress creator Ford, who looked dapper in a tux.

Kloss has been consistently dazzling during the Cannes Film Festival since it began last week, including a standout Oscar de la Renta powder blue embellished mermaid gown at the glitzy de Grisogono party earlier this week.

Both that event and the amfAR gala were held at the picturesque Hotel du Cap-Eden Roc in Cap d'Antibes.

— By Thomas Adamson, http://www.twitter.com/thomasadamsonap

___

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

The spirit of Oscar de la Renta lives on every day at the Cannes Film Festival.

Though the Dominican Republic-born fashion designer passed away last year aged 82 after battling cancer, his landmark fashion designs continue to dominate the red carpet — from Emma Stone's black sheer tulle gown at the "The Irrational Man" photocall to Aishwarya Rai's maroon silk number and Karlie Kloss' incredible blue fishtail gown at the De Grisogono soiree.

Now a documentary film has been screened at Cannes, called "Ovation for Oscar," paying homage to his work.

Featuring US Vogue Editor Anna Wintour and his widow, Annette de la Renta, the 20-minute film, directed by Ryan Curtis, is a behind-the-scenes look at the first posthumous exhibit of the designer's work at the SCAD college of art and design, with which the late designer was closely involved.

"When Oscar de la Renta passed there was an outpouring of love," said Curtis, adding that he relished the chance to pay homage to the designer via the prism of the college.

The film shows the creation of the exhibit through the eyes of a bright-eyed young student, who looks in wonder at the myriad designs — including Hillary Clinton's famous red dress that graced the cover of Vogue in 1998.

Each dress that he created, the film notes, captures the unique essence of each woman it was tailored for.

"He's one of the last old masters. He loved each individual woman, and that's his genius," Curtis said.

__

By Thomas Adamson, http://www.twitter.com/thomasadamsonap

___

MOM OF TWO ACTRESSES

Andie MacDowell has great memories of the Cannes Film Festival, but also one big regret — the year she decided to skip it.

"You know 'Sex, Lies, and Videotape' won here and I didn't come because I had just had my daughter, and I was nursing her and really round and I was afraid people would make fun of me," she said of the 1989 film.

"I know that was stupid. Now in hindsight, because I've matured and I'm older, I don't really care what people say," the 57-year-old actress added.

That daughter she was nursing is Rainey Qualley, a singer-songwriter and actress. She was recently seen in the last season of "Mad Men." MacDowell's other daughter, Margaret, is also an actress, starring in the HBO series "The Leftovers."

"I try to stay out of their way; they're really independent," she said. "They're very independent, they're their own people. I think what I've taught them they've really taken. They have really good work ethics. I have a really good work ethic. I'm on time, I'm appreciative, I give one hundred percent and I don't complain."

MacDowell, who stars in the Hallmark television series "Cedar Cove" and is in this summer's "Magic Mike XXL," was in Cannes as a brand ambassador for L'Oreal. One of her festival highlights was hanging out with fellow spokeswoman Jane Fonda.

"That was a blast and she's gorgeous and an inspiration. She's 77. She looks amazing. So I'm happy, I'm thankful, I'm always living gratitude," said MacDowell.

— By Nekesa Mumbi Moody, http://www.twitter.com/nekesamumbi

___

IRANIAN FILM MAKES A SPLASH

Writer-director Ida Panahandeh has made a splash with her film debut, landing in competition at the Cannes Film Festival for "Nahid," a fraught portrait of the byzantine legal complications and social stigmas concerning divorce and remarriage in Iran.

Panahandeh said she was in shock when she got word that "Nahid" was selected for Un Certain Regard, a sidebar competition at the festival.

"It was early in the morning, I was sleeping and our international distributor called me and waked me up," she said. "And I just could not believe it. I could not believe it was true."

Sareh Bayat stars in the title role as a small-town divorcee who finds herself navigating a peculiar minefield known as "temporary marriage." It's also personal for Panahandeh, who saw the life of a single woman through her mother.

"My mother lost her husband when she was very young and she had to bring up me and my brother on her own, and struggling to earn her life with two young kids," she said.

The movie has gotten a positive response in her native Iran. Panahandeh said she was gratified by that appreciation, and particularly that from women.

"I felt that women really connected to it, in a very special way. And this is something that was even more striking over here in Cannes, many women after the film had tears in their eyes and men too," she said. "Probably because in Iran this kind of situation is more random, people know that's how some women live and here the reaction has been even more emotional."

— By Nadine Achoui-Lesage

___

EDITOR'S NOTE — "Cannes Watch" brings you the excitement of the Cannes Film Festival and related events through the reporting of AP journalists on the ground. Follow them on Twitter with the handles listed after each item. Longer versions of most items have also moved.