A FRENZY OF FILM AND FASHION AT CANNES

The international film industry may look to the Academy Awards for its prestige, but when it is seeking out glamour, it heads to Cannes. From May 15 to 26, the who’s who of the global film industry descend on this vibrant seaside town to see the largest showcase of cinematic art in the world. But to get a ticket to Cannes, you have to be in the know, as it is an industry-only accredited event, with over 30,000 film professionals in attendance, including buyers and sellers.

Glitz and Glamour

The Festival de Cannes sees the French Riviera inundated with celebrities, paparazzi and the beautiful wannabes. A film that makes the cut for Cannes is put through a stringent approval process, and must compete with thousands of other entrants from around the world. Just getting featured in Cannes is an award in itself for any aspiring or celebrated film-maker. Of the entrants, about 50 feature films and a selection of short films are screened to the world’s toughest critics.

Serious Film-Makers

Though just featuring at Cannes is reward enough, the real prize at this international film festival is the Palme D’Or which is presented to the director of the best feature film.  Last year’s winner was Michael Haneke for his touching but haunting portrayal of love, Amour. Previous winners also include Quentin Tarantino for Pulp Fiction, Martin Scorsese for Taxi Driver and Michael Moore for Fahrenheit 9/11.

With its focus on art-house cinema, this festival of cinema also includes a section for the more esoteric films that focus on art, called Parallel Sections.  To encourage innovation, awards are also presented for the best student films.

This international film festival has chosen to make India its “guest country” for 2013, to commemorate the 100^th anniversary of the Indian film industry, putting Indian cinema into the international spotlight. This is a new concept for Cannes, with Egypt and Brazil being the only other countries to be honoured by it. In a celebration of Indian film, both Indian films and its stars will be highlighted over the course of the event, demonstrating the importance that India has in the world of cinema. A large delegation from the Indian Film Industry will be invited to the 66^th Annual Cannes Film Festival to participate in the revelries.

Party Like There Is No Tomorrow

Cannes isn’t just about the films, the hottest ticket in town is to one of the many parties that are held, either on dry land or on one of the luxury yachts that fill the harbour.  Even if you can’t get a ticket to strut your stuff on the red carpet, the opportunity to clink champagne glasses with a celebrity is aplenty at the many bars and restaurants in the dynamic city.

This film festival is the stuff that dreams are made of; French elegance, movie stars and haute couture. So head to France for the experience of a lifetime.

Not lucky enough to get a ride on George Clooney’s yacht? MakeMyTrip offers convenient flights to Cannes.