James Franco Makes Rare Red Carpet Date With Girlfriend Izabel Pakzad

James Franco is enjoying date night in France.

During the Cannes Film Festival, actor Jeremy Pope, who starred in The Interview, attended the May 12th screening of The Electric Kiss with his girlfriend, Izabel Pakzad.

James, 48, looked sharp in a classic black tuxedo and bow tie, and he wore sunglasses throughout much of the red carpet event. His partner, Izabel, 30, wore a stylish black dress with a bold silver necklace and heels, completing her look with long, flowing hair.

James and Izabel, who are an actress and filmmaker respectively, have been a couple since 2017. Lately, they’ve been appearing together at more public events, making their relationship more visible.

After five women accused him of sexual misconduct in 2018 – four of whom were his acting students – James had mostly avoided public attention.

In 2019, two students sued actor James Franco, along with his business partners Vince Jolivette and Jay Davis. The case was settled two years later for over $2 million, according to documents obtained by TopMob News.

James had previously avoided discussing the lawsuit, but in a 2021 interview on The Jess Cagle Show, he acknowledged having relationships with some former students, stating those encounters were consensual.

James was largely ostracized by Hollywood during and after a period of controversy, but he has recently spoken about where he stands in the entertainment industry now.

He told Variety in 2024 that hearing negative feedback hurt, but it was actually what he needed to change his direction.

He also said the break in his acting work forced him to reconsider his priorities.

He thought about what truly made him happy and realized it wasn’t what he’d expected. He felt grateful for the experiences he’d had, because they allowed him the freedom to focus on personal growth and make the changes he needed in his life.

The controversy also shifted the way James thought about long-term relationships.

He shared that he prioritizes his personal life, especially his seven-and-a-half-year relationship with Izabel. He explained that he hadn’t been able to commit to a long-term relationship before, admitting he used to be afraid of getting close to anyone.

Recently, he and Izabel have been spending quality time together, even traveling the world – they’ve been seen together at the Cannes festival for the past three years.

For more from this year’s Cannes Film Festival, read on.

The host of Project Runway made a grand entrance at the opening ceremony, turning the red carpet into her own personal fashion show with a gorgeous Elie Saab gown.

The two-time Oscar winner dazzled in a custom Gucci gown at the premiere of The Electric Kiss.

You don’t just casually stroll into the Cannes Film Festival. The actor from The Lord of the Rings honored his director with a lifetime achievement award—the Palme d’Or—at the festival’s opening night.

The reality TV star, known from Traitors, followed the formal dress code at the Cannes Film Festival, wearing a stunning evening gown by designer Andrew Kwon.