The 66th edition of the Cannes Film Festival started with the gala premiere and the screening of 'The Great Gatsby' directed by Baz Lurhmann starring Leonardo DiCaprio. The affair held in the South of France began on a rainy Wednesday, where the prestigious festival was to open with the 3-D adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel.

"Gatsby" has had a strong performance at the box office so far, taking in $51.1 million. The film is making its European premiere at Cannes on Wednesday night, nearly a week after opening in North America.

Spielberg is serving as jury president of this year’s Cannes, presiding over a particularly starry group including Nicole Kidman, Ang Lee and Christoph Waltz.