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.

Screen and Royal Icon, Grace Kelly

Grace Kelly was known as the Queen of Hollywood and apparently the multi-million euro production will concentrate on her role as a Royal in 1962.  She gave up her Hollywood life to marry Prince Rainer of Monaco in 1955 – and was then known as Princess Grace of Monaco.

Apparently this period of her life marked a turning point in the Principality’s history – so we are looking forward to hearing who will play Charles de Gaulle, the then President of France.

Many stars were interested in the role of Grace Kelly – such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Carey Mulligan, Diane Kruger, January Jones – but we are sure Nicole has everything to wow the critics.

For one night only, the music industry’s biggest shock factor is coming to Nice. Eclectic pop princess Lady Gaga will be playing a one-off show in the Riviera this autumn, bringing to a close what will have been an incredible year for music in the Côte d’Azur.

The singer-songwriter, who sparks controversy everywhere she goes, will be performing on 4th October at the Charles-Ehrmann stadium in the city of Nice.  Following months of secrecy, the full dates of her tour were revealed earlier this morning. Lady Gaga’s highly anticipated tour will take her around the world and Nice will be just one of her two stops in France as the starlet will also be taking to the stage in Paris on 22nd September.

As part of her ‘Born This Way Ball’ tour, Lady Gaga has signed up to play an incredible 201 shows all over the world. In a nod to her dedicated fan-base, Gaga has incorporated a “monster pit” into her set design that will create a more intimate environment for the star’s most avid fans.

Tickets go on sale on Monday 16th April at 10am – and we at French Riviera Property Search, think they will be all gone a few minutes after!

Standing in Place Garibaldi, it is difficult to imagine that below your feet lies an ancient chamber that could reveal some of Nice’s most hidden secrets. Only when workers began construction on the square did they discover the prized relic, which is now being hailed as Nice’s “richest heritage site”.

Workers were astounded when they peeled back the thick slab of concrete covering the square and came across a piece of lost Niçois history. The centuries old crypt, surrounded by well-preserved fortifications, has just received a new classification as an “important historical monument”.

It has been compared to the crypt at the Louvre in Paris and from June this year, visitors will be able to descend into near darkness and re-discover what is believed to be a part of the city’s bygone town centre.

Dating back to at least the middle ages, construction workers laying the tracks for the Ligne 1 tramway between Pont Michel and Las Planas were shocked to find the archaeological site that stretches for some 2,000 square metres.

Below the stone floor of Nice’s modern Place Garibaldi lies a wholly intact pillar from the old Pairolière castle, sections of an aqueduct that carried water from the Vesubi river across the city to the Savoy palace gardens in Vieux Nice, as well as some remains of medieval stone houses belonging to the Augustin family.

Eagerly anticipated excavation work has been ongoing for several years, but now history lovers only have two months left to wait before the site is opened to the public.

BUT this report is for all of France.  The French Riviera bucks all trends and properties along the coast continue to increase in price and value. Last report for the Cote d’Azur showed amazing increases in both prices and number of transactions.

Jackie Pressman at French Riviera Property Search, continues to advise that investment clients purchase in the main rental area of Cannes so that they can take advantage of all the winter convention rentals and summer tourism rentals, and still use themselves in-between completely free of cost – what could be a better use of capital? Use it plus see the capital gain increasing. Our clients love this.

Visit our home page www.jackiepressman.com and subscribe in a couple of clicks.

Happy reading!

Remember that France is still the most visited country in the world, and is unlikely to stop attracting international tourists, whether they are coming for the French Riviera, skiing in the Alps, for the scenery, for the culture, for the food and wine, or for the weather.

With so very many advantages it is no wonder our property market continues to rise – and therefore is a great magnet for foreign buyers.

Here on the Riviera, after the most gloriously warm Spring day, the sea was incredibly flat this evening, like a lake.

calm sea at dusk

If YOU are considering a purchase here, you need me – Jackie Pressman of French Riviera Property Search – to assist you in your negotiations and to construct your purchase in the most tax-efficient way.  Our services are FREE to buyers as we take our commission from the published price.  We save you money and worry and time.  Call us today.

Our partner for mortgages in France

Credit Foncier is the premier bank for property finance. Founded in 1852, Credit Foncier is part of the 2nd largest banking group in France (BPCE) . They offer a whole range of mortgages to non-resident clients and will do all the paperwork in English for their clients’ convenience.

We have chosen to become partners with them as we consider their mortgages to be the best on the market for rates and terms. Their mortgages are available for main or second home purchases, buy-to-lets, leasebacks, refinancing and equity release.

French Riviera Property Search (Jackie Pressman) in collaboration with Credit Foncier, will help our clients through the different stages up to the successful conclusion of their purchase and will be pleased to obtain a first fast “in-principle” answer to the loan amount entitled to from the application information.

Newsletters On-line

From today you are able to catch up with all the latest news from Jackie Pressman at French Riviera Property Search. You are now able to access our archive of Newsletters on-line here and for those of you who are not yet subscribed to our newsletter then visit our website, send us an email (on ‘contact us’) and sign up.

What to buy, Where to buy, How to buy.