The Film Festival will be starting in 3 weeks. It runs from Wednesday May 16th to Sunday May 27th.
Cannes Film Festival 2012
The beautiful Marilyn Monroe poster will be reproduced on tee-shirts, watches, beach towels, and may other items in the general merchandising – there is an official Film Festival boutique authorised to sell these and many items bearing the official Palme d’Or emblem (the golden palm leaf).
What most people don’t realise is that there are about 1000 previously unreleased films to see at all the screening rooms in all the cinemas throughout Cannes from early morning to late evening, and not just the 20ish in the Palme d’Or red-carpet competition screenings at the Palais des Festivals.
Generally people think it is 90% glitz ‘n tits ‘n parties, and 10% business – but it is the other way round, with the glitz for publicity to bring in the world press. Such a fun time.
The world press, understandably, writes about the stars and celebrities on the red carpet or about the Directors and their films – with seldom a word about the enormous business of producing, financing and distribution rights which is what the festival is really all about.
*** It was announced this morning that other members of Nanni Moretti’s jury will include Jean Paul Gaultier, Diane Kruger, Ewan McGregor and Alexander Payne.
Tickets to the red-carpet screenings are reserved strictly for the thousands who are accredited to the festival and who sport the festival badge with their own identification photo. But for all the thousands of non-showbusiness visitors, the Cannes Town Hall organises huge screenings on the beach and anyone can grab a seat and watch during the evening.
Cannes becomes the centre of the film world and it is exciting to see all the hotels and all along the Croisette sporting huge promotion posters. Many of the rental apartments are used as offices with banners strung across the outside balconies and terraces to advertise the film company there. All the available hotel suites and rental apartments are full of people in the business, all rushing around Cannes from meeting to meeting. So, if you have an apartment here, this is one of the many conventions bringing in rental clients.
It is estimated that around 200,000 people pour into Cannes each May for this famous international festival – many here for the 12-day duration of the carnival – sorry I mean festival – and many day visitors to soak up the atmosphere on the Croisette, gawk and gaze at the stars on the red-carpet, stand around the big Palace hotels in the hope of catching sight of a celebrity, watch the TV interview crews.
There are many facilities for those not accredited and not sporting the coveted identification badge. For example, there are continual TV screened interviews on a large platform built out over the Martinez beach, where the interviewers have a stream of famous Cannes visitors; there are beach screenings of old and well-loved films; there is a dedicated festival boutique with many items emblazoned with the famous Palm Leaf emblem; 100s of photographers on the streets to click your reminder of a great occasion; there are special invitations from the Cannes Town Hall for residents of Cannes to the red-carpet screenings.
Not many know that on the Monday following the festival, there are 3 screenings of the film which has won the Palme d’Or the night before, just for the owners of a property in Cannes. You must register before the festival with identification and a utility bill to prove ownership, and into the draw you go. So many thousands of local people get their chance to walk up the red-carpet at the famous Palais des Festivals. It is the Cannes Mayor’s way of giving back to compensate for a bit of inconvenience, i.e. difficult to get around, difficult to park, difficult to get a restaurant booking. But so exciting – we all love it.
If you are a convention visitor/participant to Cannes and want accommodation for any of the international conventions contact me, Jackie Pressman, and I will arrange something for you in central Cannes, always within 10 minutes walk of the Convention Centre. Whether you are a seasoned delegate or new participant you can trust me to take care of your requirements – see my references page on this website.
