CANNES YOU?
- ljhopper
- Mar 31, 2024
- 4 min read
A bitesize HOW-TO guide for Cannes Film Festival.
Welcome to the Females on Film HOW-TO guide for the Festival de Cannes. I’ve spent the last few years flying over to the French Riviera to participate in the absolutely glorious Cannes Film Festival. Throughout this guide I will provide you with tricks and top tips that I have picked up from the perspective of an actress, writer, and producer. This blog will be for anyone attending the festival but will be especially helpful for any newbie who will be launching themselves into the film festival fracas.
What is Cannes Film Festival?
Festival de Cannes is the most glamorous and prestigious film festival in the world. Over 60,000 film buffs flock to the French Riviera including professional filmmakers, A list actors and celebs, cinephiles, paparazzi, journalists and those who just fancy rubbing shoulders with Brad Pitt! The festival tends to run in May of each year, where the Croisette (La Croisette is name of the long stretch of road that holds the festival) is brimming with film buffs and the occasional family who booked the wrong week for a holiday.
RESEARCH
Accreditations usually opens in February. Accreditations is how you apply to enter the festival itself and there are different options available to suit your needs. If you head to festival-cannes.com and click on the ‘take part’ tab it will give you six options to choose from depending on your career. Wearing my producer hat I would pick the ‘Film professional accreditation’, fill in the form and wait for the acceptance. This then provides you with the badges to enter the different festival areas.
PREPARATION
Travel
Firstly, check VISAs, the last problem you want is being stuck at immigration when you’d like to be stuck on the Croisette. Try and book flight/train tickets as soon as you know you’re heading to the festival as it gets busy. The trip from Nice airport to Cannes is around 50 minutes by car, the train is cheaper and quite nice, or you can always order an uber helicopter if you’re feeling fancy. I've attached maps for ease of getting around the area and festival.
Accomodation
There are some amazing hotels right in the thick of the festival. Le Majestic, Barriere, (The Majestic) is the closest to the festival. 5 stars and full to the brim with film stars and creatives. Next to that is The Grand which has a brilliant grassy area at the front which is where a lot of producers, sales agents and commissioners take meetings but be warned it will take you forever to get served a drink. The Marriot, Carlton and Martinez are also all gorgeous hotels and within walking distance of the hotel.
If you don’t fancy re mortgaging your house, I have had great success with booking.com for brilliant little apartments and try to bunk in with pals to keep the cost down. If for any reason you can’t go a lot of the stays on booking.com offer a full refund with at least 72 hours notice. But (and I’m talking to my ladies here) please be careful where you book and try to avoid walking alone at night. It’s bullshit that I even have to say it but grab a gal and stick together.
Another tip is to make sure you drop off all luggage at your accommodation before heading to the festival. No big luggage is allowed into the tents due to a potential security risk and I wouldn’t fancy the security pulling out my pants while searching my luggage!
OUTFITS
Seems a silly point but I have always made sure to check the weather before going because it makes all the difference. Firstly, for the size of suitcase you need. 2022 was a HOT year for Cannes yet 2023 was chilly. The last thing you want is to be freezing without a jumper or sweating in a cardigan. This also helps with packing what to take. Unless you are planning on walking the red carpet then don’t bother with high heels. Traffic is a nightmare, so a lot of time is spent walking.
MEMBERS CLUBS
Along the beach in Cannes there are various members clubs that you can book onto prior to the festival. Screen International, The Members Club and more line the sandy beach and all creatives chair swap and network within them. I find them a little pricey (roughly £350), good for networking but not essential. Many of the hotels and apartments on the Croisette host different production companies and sales agents. The banners are vast and give a nice insight into who is doing well (the bigger the banner the better).
FEMALE FOCUSED EVENTS
WFTV (Women in Film and TV, Yes She Cannes, Female Film Club are just a few of the absolutely brilliant female led organisations that hold events, networking and sessions to really boost female filmmakers. There will be a blog post in May to confirm dates for all events that are a must for any budding, or existing, filmmakers out there.
This has been a bitesize look into the Cannes Film Festival. Next will be more info on the festival itself. Please leave a comment in the box below if you have any questions and I’ll be sure to answer (or find out if I don’t know).
You’re all gorgeous and I’m excited to see you at Cannes!
L x
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