Jury Member Paul Laverty attends the opening ceremony dinner ahead of the 79th annual Cannes Film Festival on May 12, 2026 in Cannes, France. Getty Images Controversies sparked during the Cannes Film Festival often outshine the films themselves. Take  Woody Allen ’s 2016 film “Café Society,” which starred  Blake Lively . Few can remember how that film played, but many will likely recall the uproar caused by a joke made at Allen’s expense when he introduced the film (“It’s very nice that you’ve been shooting so many movies in Europe,” quipped comedian MC  Laurent Lafitte . “Even if you are not being convicted for rape in the US.”)   Jury members Ruth Negga, Demi Moore, Paul Laverty, Diego Céspedes and Laura Wandel applauding at the 79th Cannes Film Festival. Getty Images The daily press conferences at these international festivals typically generate the most viral sound bites, with certain reporters trying to goad talent into discussing hot-button topics.…