Riley Keough celebrates his directorial debut at the Cannes Film Festival

It’s been an emotional rollercoaster for actress Riley Keough, a ride that brought her to tears of joy.

Not only did her first film as co-director, War Pony, debut at Cannes film festival Saturday to a rousing ovation, but it came just days before Baz Luhrmann’s new film about his grandfather, Elvis Presley, premiered at Cannes.

Festival director Thierry Fremaux maintains that the two Cannes debuts, and his connection to Elvis Presley’s family, were not contrived and were simply a “happy coincidence”, according to PEOPLE.

Turns out Keough couldn’t be happier with the results of War Pony and Elvis.

Decked out in a black blazer, matching shorts and Dior heels for the screening, the 32-year-old actress and director admitted to being “shocked” by the film screened at the festival.

“We’re so grateful to be here,” the Santa Monica native said, while speaking on behalf of the cast and crew. “It was a collaboration between all of us, and it’s our whole movie.”

Sharing directorial duties with fellow first-timer Gina Gammell, War Pony follows the plight of Native Americans, and in particular a 23-year-old Oglala-Lakota native growing up on a reservation, while still trying to find his next. scramble.

Once the War Pony credits started rolling at the end of the screening, the audience proceeded to rapturous applause that lasted six minutes.

Keough became emotional at the positive response, much like she did when she watched Elvis’ new biopic with her mother and grandmother. In fact, the three ladies shed tears as they watched part of their family history unfold onscreen, with Austin Butler playing the legendary rocker from Memphis, Tennessee.

“It was a very moving experience. It’s very intense to watch when it’s your family,’ Keough said, before revealing how she’s been a fan of Baz Luhrmann since watching Moulin Rouge when she was 12. The musical romantic drama film actually inspired Keough to want to “make movies” as a profession.

Luhrmann consulted with the family before beginning filming on the film, which also stars Tom Hanks as Elvis’ late manager, Colonel Tom Parker.

‘It wasn’t like I was suspicious of Baz, but you protect your family,’

What sets this latest Elvis movie apart from others is that it focuses on the Jailhouse Rock star’s relationship with Parker, who engaged in unethical management practices by a judge. in 1980, as reported smooth radio.

“Within the first five minutes I could feel how hard Baz and Austin were working [Butler] try to do things right. It moved me immediately,’ the Mad Max: Fury Road actress said Variety. “I started crying five minutes later and I haven’t stopped.”

Following the world premiere of the Elvis biopic at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, it will hit theaters in the United States on June 24, 2022, then premiere on HBO Max 45 days later.