Cannes red carpet: Eva Longoria and Nadine Labaki lead strong showing of Lebanese designs

Metallic embroidery, silver sequins and dramatic gowns add even more pizzazz to the French Riviera film festival

Eva Longoria in an Elie Saab gown at the Kinds of Kindness premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. Getty Images

Youssra in an outfit by Lebanese designer Tony Ward at Le Deuxieme Acte (The Second Act) screening and opening ceremony red carpet at Cannes. Photo: WireImage

CANNES, FRANCE - MAY 17: Diala Makki attends the Chopard Trophy at the 77th annual Cannes Film Festival at Carlton Beach on May 17, 2024 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Victor Boyko / Getty Images)

Victoria Justice in Zuhair Murad on the Kinds Of Kindness red carpet event. Getty Images

Model Alessiya Merzlova in Zuhair Murad attends the Le Deuxieme Acte (The Second Act) screening and opening ceremony red carpet. Getty Images

Annabella Hilal wearing Zuhair Murad at the Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga red carpet event. Photo: WireImage

Raya Abirached wears Georges Chakra as she attends Le Deuxieme Acte (The Second Act) screening and opening red carpet ceremony. Getty Images

Jury member Nadine Labaki on the Megalopolis red carpet in an outfit by Jean-Louis Sabaji. Getty Images

Indian actress Urvashi Rautela on the red carpet with a custom design by Souhir El Gabsi. Reuters

Saudi filmmakers Raneem Almohandes and Dana Almohandes at The Red Sea International Film Festival's Women in Cinema gala, wearing Fouad Sarkis. Getting Images

TikTok star Elie Fy in Fouad Sarkis. Getty Images

Actress Sandy Aouad at the screening of Le Deuxieme Acte (The Second Act) wearing Fouad Sarkis. Getty Images

Model Loredana Salanta in a Fouad Sarkis dress. Getty Images

As the Cannes Film Festival heads into its first weekend, the stars continue to shine on the red carpet.

Lebanese designers were a popular choice, with Eva Longoria wearing a sequin-embellished Elie Saab Haute Couture gown accented with a sharp V-neckline during the Kinds of Kindness premiere on Friday. She was later spotted hugging Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who arrived in a shimmery double-shaded green and silver gown by Falguni Shane Peacock, featuring a trail and dramatic shoulders. They took a moment to pose for a photo together.

Meanwhile, TV presenter Diala Makki showcased outfits from Syrian designer Rami Al Ali and later from Lebanese designer Georges Hobeika. Her first outfit was a blush pink jumpsuit paired with a flowing, floor-length cape, featuring a plunging neckline and billowy sleeves. Her second outfit was a strapless, form-fitting creation adorned with deep blue and silver sequins in an intricate baroque-inspired pattern.

Zuhair Murad was another popular choice, with actress Victoria Justice wearing a sheer black off-shoulder gown with horizontal metallic embroidery and a bow detail. TV presenter and model Annabella Hilal sported an ivory-coloured fully embroidered top with a matching skirt veiled by an attached chiffon stole. Model Alessiya Merzlova wore a blue sleeveless gown with ruffle tulle details.

Veteran Egyptian actress and singer Youssra wore a shimmery silver and gold embroidered dress from Tony Ward, while Chinese actress Jing Liang wore a striking white-and-black gown from the same atelier.

Other outfits from Lebanese designers spotted at the festival include Georges Chakra, who dressed TV presenter Raya Abirached in a red velvet couture gown with a structured strapless neckline and a cascade of embellishments at the waist. Lebanese director and actress Nadine Labaki, who is a jury member this year, wore a black Jean Louis Sabaji dress with an embellished collar and sleeves.

Meanwhile, Indian actress Urvashi Rautela shined in a custom design from Tunisian designer Souhir El Gabsi.

Lebanese designer Fouad Sarkis also dressed a number of attendees, including actress Sandy Aouad, TikTok star Elie Fy, Indian influencer Aastha Shah and models Kate Alexeeva and Loredana Salanta.

Saudi filmmakers Raneem and Dana Almohandes also wore all-black ensembles by Sarkis at the Women in Cinema Gala hosted by the Red Sea International Film Festival and Vanity Fair Europe.

Six women were also honoured at the event for "fiercely redefining what is possible for future generations of female storytellers". They were Saudi actors Aseel Omran and Adhwa Fahad, filmmaker Ramata-Toulaye Sy, popular Thai actor Sarocha Chankimha, Bollywood actress Kiara Advani and acclaimed Egyptian actor Salma Abu Deif.

The Cannes Film Festival runs until Saturday