Cannes Film Festival

No event is so inseparably bound to the town as the Cannes Film Festival. Every year in May, for twelve days, Cannes turns into the capital of the film world, when directors, actors and film stars from all over the world descend on the Croisette. Anyone staying in our apartment in the old Le Suquet during that period experiences the town at its most spectacular: the glamour is literally around the corner, just a short walk from the red carpet. The festival was founded in 1946 and grew into the most prestigious film festival in the world.

The most prestigious festival in the world

The Cannes Film Festival ranks, alongside Venice and Berlin, as one of the most important film festivals in Europe, but no other event radiates so much glamour. For twelve days everything revolves around film: an international jury judges the official selection, world premieres are screened and the entire film industry meets in and around the Palais des Festivals. Since its founding the festival has grown into an institution that sets taste, launches careers and helps shape the history of film.

The Palme d'Or

The coveted top prize is the Palme d'Or, awarded to the best film of the year. The palm branch in the emblem refers to the coat of arms of the town of Cannes and has become one of the most sought-after distinctions a filmmaker can win. Alongside the Palme d'Or, many other prizes are awarded, such as the Grand Prix and the prizes for best direction and best acting performances. A selection by an international jury, a handful of world premieres and the inevitable red carpet make the festival an annual highlight that grips the film world worldwide.

The Palais des Festivals

The beating heart of the festival is the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, with its famous red-carpet staircase on which the premieres take place in the evening. Climbing those twenty-four steps, under the eyes of hundreds of photographers, has become a ritual in itself. In the pavement in front of it, the handprints of countless film legends are immortalised on the Allée des Étoiles du Cinéma. Outside the festival season you can visit the Palais and walk the red carpet yourself — a fun and typically Cannes moment for anyone who wants to taste the film atmosphere without the crowds.

Spotting stars and tasting the festival atmosphere

The official screenings are reserved for badge holders, but even without an invitation you can taste the unique atmosphere. Glamour hangs in the air everywhere in town, photographers and fans gather around the grand hotels on the Croisette, and with a little luck you catch a glimpse of a famous star on the way to a premiere. The boulevard, the marina full of superyachts and the terraces form a great open-air setting where there is something to experience all year round, but in May all the more.

Cinéma de la Plage

One of the finest ways for a visitor to share in the festival is the Cinéma de la Plage. On the beach, free films are screened in the evening under the starry sky, open to everyone. Watching a classic or a festival film with your feet in the sand and the sea in the background is an experience you will not soon forget. It is the democratic counterweight to a festival that otherwise revolves above all around exclusivity.

Cannes all year round

Outside the festival weeks too, Cannes breathes film and glamour. The Croisette, the palm trees, the luxury boutiques and the art-deco hotels recall the town's status all year round. Combine a walk past the Palais with a visit to the picturesque quarter of Le Suquet, a beach day on the beaches of Cannes or a boat trip to the green Lérins Islands, just off the coast.

Staying in Cannes in May

Anyone who wants to stay in Cannes during the festival would do well to book well in advance, for it is then also the busiest time of the whole year. From our apartment in Le Suquet you are in the middle of the festivities within minutes and can then withdraw again into the peace of old Cannes. Take a look at the apartment and the available dates and experience the magic of the film festival up close.