Today (Wednesday, 16 May) marks the start of the Cannes Film Festival – undoubtedly one of the most prestigious and glamorous events in the film industry calendar.
Cannes, located on the French Riviera, is a glamorous place pretty much all year round, but every May the city is awash with the rich and famous, all showing off for the hordes of photographers and press.
Of course, for all the pomp and ceremony, Cannes is, at its very heart, all about the films. Whether it is a hard-hitting documentary, a future Hollywood blockbuster, or an independent project, films take centre stage at the annual event.
Cannes is a pricey place at the best of times, but during the festival it takes on a celebrity price tag. But if you can’t resist the lure of the event, you can make savings.
Accommodation
As you might have guessed, accommodation fills up fast during the festival. The best option is to book in advance before you go, to ensure you get a reasonable price.
Of course, it is a little late for this now. But towards the end of the festival many people start to leave, freeing up some space. As this is a less popular time to go, room price should start to return to normal.
Seeing a film
You don’t want to go to Cannes and not see a film – that’s pretty much the whole point. Unless you’re in the film industry, or a member of the press, you won’t be able to see any of the featured films.
But there are options available to the public. Check out the nightly screenings at the Cinéma de la Plage, which are free and screen films from the official selection, as well as Cannes classics.
The films are shown at round 9:30pm and are hugely popular, so be prepared and get your tickets early from the Cannes tourist office.
Seeing a celebrity
For every celebrity attending Cannes, there will be plenty more people trying to catch a glimpse of them. If you’re hell-bent on seeing your favourite A-Lister, be sure to get to the festival’s main hub early.
It’s all about being in the right place at the right time, but if you beat the paparazzi you can get a great spot near the red carpet.
(Images: Christophe.Finot, TOMOYOSHI, Bex.Walton, Clare & Dave)
