*Courtesy of Aurore Marechal / Getty Images.*

James Gray returned to the Cannes Film Festival May 16 with ‘Paper Tiger,’ his sixth film to premiere at the festival, receiving a ten-minute standing ovation at its world premiere inside the Grand Théâtre Lumière.

Among those applauding were Cate Blanchett, Julianne Moore and filmmaker Pawel Pawlikowski. Gray appeared visibly emotional as he paused to take in the reaction, thanking the audience for helping keep cinema alive.

‘Paper Tiger’ stars Scarlett Johansson, Adam Driver and Miles Teller. The film centers on two brothers chasing the American Dream who become caught up in a dangerous Russian mafia plot that threatens their family. As the stakes rise, loyalty is tested and betrayal comes to the surface.

Gray last appeared at Cannes in 2022 with the deeply personal ‘Armageddon Time,’ which earned a five-minute standing ovation and prompted an emotional speech from the director. This time, he playfully urged the audience to keep clapping longer, pointing to his watch as he looked toward those seated in the upper levels of the theater.

‘Paper Tiger’ was first announced during last year’s Cannes market and was later added to this year’s festival lineup as a late in-competition entry. Shortly afterward, NEON, known for its recent streak of Palme d’Or-winning titles, acquired U.S. rights to the film.

Despite his long history with the festival and strong critical reputation, Gray has yet to win a Cannes prize.

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