Cannes Film Festival
The Palme d'Or on the Croisette. Every May the Cannes Film Festival fills the French Riviera with premieres and stars. Its history, sections, prizes and red carpet rules explained.
The red carpet at Cannes: tangi_bertin, CC BY-SA 2.0
A festival on the Riviera
The Cannes Film Festival was planned in the late 1930s as an international showcase for cinema and held its first full edition in 1946. Since then it has grown into the most famous film festival in the world. It takes place every May in the Palais des Festivals et des Congres, a large modern building at the end of the seaside promenade known as the Croisette.
The official selection
The heart of Cannes is the Competition, a group of around twenty new films chosen by the festival and judged by a jury of filmmakers and actors. Un Certain Regard showcases bold new voices, and other films screen out of competition or in Cannes Classics, which presents restored older films. Independent sections, the Directors' Fortnight and Critics' Week, run alongside.
The prizes
The top award is the Palme d'Or, a golden palm leaf, first given in 1955. The jury also gives the Grand Prix, prizes for best director, screenplay, actor and actress, and the Jury Prize. The Camera d'Or goes to the best first feature across all sections. Winners include famous films like Taxi Driver (1976), Pulp Fiction (1994) and Parasite (2019), which went on to win the Oscar for Best Picture.
The red carpet steps
Evening premieres at the Palais follow a strict dress code, traditionally black tie for men and evening wear for women. Stars climb the red-carpeted steps, known in French as la montee des marches, while hundreds of photographers shout their names. Most screenings are for accredited professionals and press, but the public can watch free films on the beach at Cinema de la Plage.
Business behind the glamour
Alongside the festival runs the Marche du Film, one of the world's biggest film markets, where producers sell rights to distributors from every country. For many actors, a Cannes premiere is the start of an awards campaign. Compare Cannes with the other major festivals in our film festivals guide.
Visiting tips
Most festival screenings need professional accreditation, but visitors still enjoy the atmosphere: crowds gather along the barriers by the Palais to watch arrivals, and Cinema de la Plage shows free films on the beach in the evening. Hotels fill up months ahead, and prices rise sharply during festival weeks. Check the official site for the program and public events before you travel.
- The red carpet at Cannes: tangi_bertin, CC BY-SA 2.0
Text written by Amazing Movie Star.
