The red carpet was awash with glamorous stars on Thursday as celebrities attended the Red Sea Film Foundation’s Women In Cinema Gala at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc.

Leading the way was Alessandra Ambrosio, who put her phenomenal figure on display in a plunging gown with a velvet bodice and satin skirt. 

The garment cinched in at her slender waist and was embellished with silver brooches that matched the crystals on her long black gloves. 

The Victoria’s Secret model, 44, finished off her look with chandelier earrings and towering peep-toe heels. 

Also dressed to impress was fellow VS model Shanina Shaik, 34, who turned heads in a low-cut silver dress that was encrusted with thousands of crystals and pearls.  

The long-sleeved gown also featured a racy thigh high split to show off the Australian star’s toned pins and silver heels. 

Alessandra Ambrosio led the glamorous stars on Thursday as celebrities attended the Red Sea Film Foundation’s Women In Cinema Gala at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc

She was joined on the red carpet by Shanina Shaik (left) and Jessica Alba, who also looked sensational as they posed up a storm on the red carpet 

Jessica Alba, 44, was also looking phenomenal for the evening, opting for a strapless black gown that she accessorised with a dazzling ruby necklace. 

She wasn’t the only actress in attendance, with Eiza Gonzalez and Imogen Poots also making a glamorous entrance. 

Eiza, 35, looked radiant in a tan figure-hugging dress with a low-cut neckline that she paired with diamond jewellery. 

Imogen, 35, also looked sensational in a butter yellow gown adorned with sequins. 

The Red Sea Film Foundation hosted the Women in Cinema Gala to celebrate the achievements of emerging female talent in front of and behind the camera, who are redefining the film industry in the Arab World, Africa and Asia. 

It is one of the many star-studded events taking place during Cannes Film Festival. 

The Cannes Film Festival originally emerged in the World War II years, when the rise of fascism in Italy led to the founding of an alternative to the then-government controlled Venice Film Festival. 

In the time since, Cannes´ resolute commitment to cinema has made it a beacon to filmmakers. Countless directors have come to make their name.

Alessandra Ambrosio put her phenomenal figure on display in a plunging gown with a velvet bodice and satin skirt

Alessandra’s garment cinched in at her slender waist and was embellished with silver brooches that matched the crystals on her long black gloves 

Alessandra was joined on the red carpet by her boyfriend, Australian jewellery designer, Buck Palmer, who looked dapper in a tuxedo

Also dressed to impress was fellow VS model Shanina, 34, who turned heads in a low-cut silver dress that was encrusted with thousands of crystals and pearls

The long-sleeved gown also featured a racy thigh high split to show off the Australian star’s toned pins and silver heels

Jessica Alba, 44, was also looking phenomenal for the evening, opting for a strapless black gown that she accessorised with a dazzling ruby necklace

Jessica wasn’t the only actress in attendance, with Eiza Gonzalez (left) and Imogen Poots also making a glamorous entrance

Eiza, 35, looked radiant in a tan figure-hugging dress with a low-cut neckline that she paired with diamond jewellery as she posed with Shanina 

Catherine Deneuve looked elegant in a navy blue gown that she paired with a floral clutch

This year is no different, though some of the first-time filmmakers at Cannes are already particularly well-known. Kristen Stewart (The Chronology of Water), Scarlett Johansson (Eleanor the Great) and Harris Dickinson (Urchin) will all be unveiling their feature directorial debuts in Cannes´ Un Certain Regard sidebar section.

Many Cannes veterans will be back, too, including Tom Cruise (Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning), Robert De Niro – who´s to receive an honorary Palme d´Or 49 years after Taxi Driver premiered in Cannes – and Quentin Tarantino, to pay tribute to low-budget Western director George Sherman.

Over recent years the star-studded extravaganza has arguably won more attention for the outfits worn by its celebrity guests than the roster of feature films being screened on the Croisette. 

But new nudity rules, devised for ‘the sake of decency,’ have been implemented at this year’s festival.  

According to organisers, the austere move is an attempt to stifle the celebrity trend for ‘naked dresses’ – namely provocative outfits that reveal considerably more than they conceal – on the red carpet.

‘For decency reasons, nudity is prohibited on the red carpet, as well as any other area of the festival,’ states a Cannes festival document.

‘The festival welcoming teams will be obligated to prohibit red carpet access to anyone not respecting these rules.’ 

The surprise new policy features in a recent festival-goers charter – released with a series of outlines regarding expected public behaviour. 

Shanina looked in good spirits as she shared a laugh with Matthew Adesuyan

Imogen cosied up to Saudi Arabian film producer Mohammed Al Turki

Rungano Nyoni, Engfa Waraha, Sarah Taibah, Elham Ali, Gaya Jiji, Amina Khalil and Jacqueline Fernandez attended the glamorous gala 

Guests are expected to converge on the Grand Auditorium Louis Lumière for some of the highest profile film screenings across a packed two-week schedule in Cannes. 

It’s understood that the iconic venue now adopts a more conservative dress code, with suits, dinner jackets and floor-length evening gowns generally favoured over headline grabbing ensembles. 

Classic little black dresses, cocktail dresses, pant-suits, dressy tops and elegant sandals, ‘with or without a heel’, will also be permitted.  

While the decision to implement a more stringent policy will be a first, it is not known if French TV broadcasters, wary of airing nudity, played a role in its enforcement. 

Major red carpet events, including the Cannes Film Festival, are aired in France by France Télévisions

Recently attracting more models and influencers than actors and filmmakers, the annual ceremony has seen an increase in risque red carpet fashion statements.