The Cannes Film Festival opened today with its usual star-studded spectacular fanfare. This year is the sixtieth anniversary of one of cinema’s greatest showcases and you can expect to see big names such as George Clooney, Jude Law, and Martin Scorsese there.
The Cannes Film Festival opened today with its usual star-studded fanfare. This year is the sixtieth anniversary of one of cinema’s greatest showcases and you can expect to such stars as George Clooney, Jude Law, and Martin Scorsese there. Cannes is traditionally a place for cinema movers and shakers as well as wannabes to network, make deals, and of course, party. It has been called “the granddaddy of all film festivals” by Hollywood Reporter, being a part of the “big five” movie festivals that also includes Venice, Berlin, Sundance, and Toronto.
I suppose one thing that attracts many is the exotic location. Cannes is held…in Cannes, which is in the south of France. Cannes is a breathtaking, yet tiny resort town located on the Riviera. Although small, the town has become an international capital of film.
The film festival was originally proposed by Philippe Erlanger, a writer. The French government thought that was a great idea, but there was a little thing called World War II going on. This postponed the festival’s premiere until September 1946. The festival has long been know for showcasing European films, but it is also known for helping filmmakers find distributors for their movies.
Each year, Cannes gives out several prestigious awards. The Palme d’Or (Golden Palm) is the highest award given for Best Film. Pictures such as M*A*S*H, The Conversation, Taxi Driver, Apocalypse Now, All That Jazz, Pulp Fiction, and The Pianist have all been awarded the Palme d’Or. Other awards include Prix de la mise en scene (Best Director), Prix du Jury (Jury Prize) and La Camera d’Or (Best First Film).
Threatening to take home awards this year are past winners (and festival favorites) Quentin Tarantino, Gus Van Sant, and the Coen Brothers. But they face stiff competition from two Russian film makers, Andrei Zvyagintsev and Alexander Sokurov. Other potential blockbusters films such as Ocean’s 13 also have a chance as does the story of slain reporter Daniel Pearl, A Mighty Heart.