Cannes Film Festival: Then and now

Cannes International Film Festival is currently underway. The festival is held annually in France and honors new films from all over the globe. Although the festival has origins beginning in the late 1930s, it was officially established in 1947. Cannes International Film Festival is considered to be one of the most prestigious film festivals, with the top award being the Palme d’Or or “Golden Palm.”

Here is a look at photos from The Associated Press' archive of Cannes through the years, including a selection of coverage of this year's event.

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Elizabeth Taylor and Mike Todd 1955

U.S. film star Elizabeth Taylor and her husband, producer Mike Todd are surrounded by photographers at the Cannes Film Festival at Cannes, France, May 2, 1955. (AP Photo/Babout)

Ingrid Bergman 1956

Ingrid Bergman is snapped from all sides by a crowd of photographers at Cannes, May 16, 1956. She was one of the attractions at the film festival on the Riviera. (AP Photo)

Kim Novak 1956

Illustrating why she was dubbed the "Festival Bomb" at the Cannes Film Festival, actress Kim Novak is hustled through the crowd of media to attend an evening performance, April 25, 1956. (AP Photo)

Pablo Picasso 1957

Famous painter Pablo Picasso in Cannes for the Annual Film Festival seen in Cannes on May 1, 1957. (AP Photo/H. Babout)

Sidney Poitier 1961

Actor Sidney Poitier appears at the Cannes Film Festival, Cannes, France, for the showing of his film "A Raisin in the Sun," May 13, 1961. At right is actress Jean Seberg. (AP Photo)

Anny Nielsen 1962

Backed by a RockíníRoll group, Swedish mannequin Anny Nielsen, known was ìMiss Angoraî, attracts a crowd of onlookers as she lets go with the twist on the sea-front at Cannes in France on May 17, 1962, where the annual film festival is in progress. Anny lives in France. (AP Photo)

Sophia Loren 1962

Italian Oscar-winning actress Sophia Loren, extreme right, and her company are protected by police from crushing crowds as they arrive at Festival Palace for the opening of the Cannes film festival, May 7, 1962. Next to Miss Loren is actress Romy Schneider and behind them is actor Alain Delon. (AP Photo/H. Babout)

Natalie Wood 1962

American actress Natalie Wood poses for an unidentified U.S. sailor on the Croisette, Cannes, on May 11, 1962, on her arrival for the Cannes Film Festival in France. Natalie appears in "West Side Story." (AP Photo)

Beach in Cannes France 1967

Beach umbrellas line-up on a breezy day at Cannes, Riviera resort which is the scene of the 20th Cannes Film Festival, May 8, 1967. (AP photo)

Alfred Hitchcock 1972

Master of suspense film director Alfred Hitchcock pedals his bicycle to the Cannes international film festival in Cannes, France on May 15, 1972. (AP Photo)

Arnold Schwarzenegger 1977

Arnold Schwarzenegger, whose documentary film "Pumping Iron" is to be presented at the Cannes Film Festival, is showing off his body for an appreciative beach audience in Cannes, France, May 20, 1977. (AP Photo)

Richard Gere 1979

U.S. actor Richard Gere starring in Terrence Malick's "Day of Heaven" at the Cannes International Film Festival, May 19, 1979. (AP Photo/Levy)

Jake Gyllenhaal 2015

Actor Jake Gyllenhaal poses for photographers upon arrival ahead of the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 12, 2015. The festival opens on Thursday, May 13 and runs until Sunday, May 24. (Photo by Joel Ryan/Invision/AP)

Tahar Rahim 2015

Jury member Tahar Rahim poses for photographers during a photo call for the jury of Un Certain Regard, at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 14, 2015. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Lupita Nyong'o 2015

Lupita Nyong'o arrives for the opening ceremony and the screening of the film La Tete Haute (Standing Tall) at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Wednesday, May 13, 2015. (Photo by Joel Ryan/Invision/AP)

Charlize Theron and Sean Penn 2015

Charlize Theron and Sean Penn arrive on the red carpet at the screening of the film Mad Max: Fury Road at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 14, 2015. (Photo by Arthur Mola/Invision/AP)

Julianne Moore 2015

Actress Julianne Moore poses for photographers on the red carpet at the opening ceremony and the screening of the film La Tete Haute (Standing Tall) at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Wednesday, May 13, 2015. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Natalie Portman and Benjamin Millepied 2015

Actress Natalie Portman, right, and her husband choreographer Benjamin Millepied arrive for the opening ceremony and the screening of the film La Tete Haute (Standing Tall) at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Wednesday, May 13, 2015. (Benoit Tessier/Pool via AP)

Naomi Watts 2015

Actress Naomi Watts, center, poses for photographers as she arrives for the screening of the film Mad Max: Fury Road at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 14, 2015. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Guillermo Del Toro 2015

Guillermo Del Toro, right, speaks to members of the media as he arrives at a hotel ahead of the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 12, 2015. The festival opens on Wednesday, May 13 and runs until Sunday, May 24. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Emma Stone 2015

Actress Emma Stone speaks during a press conference for the film Irrational Man, at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Friday, May 15, 2015. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

La Tete Haute Red Carpet 2015

Photographers work during the opening ceremony and the screening of the film La Tete Haute (Standing Tall) at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Wednesday, May 13, 2015. (Benoit Tessier/Pool via AP)

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