Raging Bull Robert De Niro to be at Cannes with Hands of Stone

Hollywood great Robert De Niro will be back at the upcoming Cannes Film Festival with his new film Hands of Stone. The festival, which runs from May 11 to 22, will screen the De Niro-starrer as a tribute to one of the greatest actors the world has ever watched, and the movie will be part of the Special Screenings -- thus firming up the French Riviera’s age-old tried-and-tested method of bewitching us with a heady cocktail of sense and style.

The Raging Bull star, who presided over the festival jury in 2011, has once again stepped into the boxing ring for Hands of Stone, based on the true story of the Panamanian fighter, Roberto Duran (played in the film by Edgar Ramirez). De Niro essays Duran’s manager and coach, Ray Arcel -- who helped Duran win legendary fights against Sugar Ray among others.

The man from Mean Streets will walk the Croisette on May 16, when Hands of Stone will premiere. Its Venezuelan helmer, Jonathan Jakubpwicz, and actors, Ramírez and Ana de Armas will also attend the evening gala at the Grand Theatre Lumiere.

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Robert De Niro will walk the Croisette at Cannes on May 16, where Hands of Stone will premiere.

“I’m excited to be coming back to Cannes especially with this movie Hands of Stone that I’m so proud of,” said De Niro. “This film is uplifting, triumphant and a good time for audiences, so I’m looking forward to seeing my friends from across the world of cinema in joining us for this fun event.”

Ramirez told the media in April that “Duran embodies the identity of an entire country. He’s been able to unite his country at some of its most difficult times and that’s something we explore in the movie. The country has been dealing with an identity crisis because of its history - it’s been invaded or crunched by bigger powers from its origins...Duran has always been a source of pride; you need to be here in Panama to understand the devotion. The adoration of athletes is something you understand in Europe and the US, but here it transcends the sport.”