Scarlett Johansson has made a major splash in Cannes with her feature directorial debut “Eleanor the Great.” Competing in the Un Certain Regard competition, the film — starring June Squibb, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Erin Kellyman — earned Johansson and her cast a five-minute standing ovation on Tuesday.

Johansson was escorted by her all-powerful agent and CEO of CAA, Bryan Lourd. Her husband, “Weekend Update” anchor Colin Jost, arrived solo and mingled with Sony Pictures Classics executives Tom Bernard and Michael Barker. Reigning best actor Oscar winner Adrien Brody and his partner Georgina Chapman also attended, chatting up Jost.

Introducing the film, Johansson said premiering it at Cannes is “really a dream come true.”

“When you make a film that’s an independent film like this, no one’s doing it for the money — surprise, surprise,” she continued. “Really, everyone that came together for this film came together because they loved the story,...