Cannes Film Festival
Le Palais Du Festival
Crossing one more thing off my bucket list this year by hitting the Cannes Film Festival. Cannes holds the most prestigious film festival of the year and all of the entertainment industry moves with it. A week and a half of non stop films, parties, and more parties. I’m not even sure how many days I spent there because it all ran together because I may have slept about 6 hours the whole trip. French people are serious about three things smoking, fashion and parties. All of which are included in the festival in Cannes.
After my 18 hour flight to Nice, I got on the bus to Cannes. The Bus drops you off right at the Palais in the thick of everything. I found this quite a tease because I had to go back to my hotel and drop off my load of luggage before I could come back to the festival. I couldn’t risk any of my luggage getting lost because I had so many events to hit while I was there so my carry on bags were bursting at the seems.
It took what seemed like an eternity to find a cab to my hotel. I almost cried, it was that bad. Sharpening my “Franglais” My friend Angela Cullins had already checked into the day before. True to French form the bathroom was flooded and leaked into the hallway. I slipped and landed on the floor and my luggage then burst as I expected. Again I almost cried. Angelas film in which she Co – Starred opposite Cory Haim was set to Premiere at the festival in and hour and a half and I was laying on the floor in a pool of water and a plethora of Gucci belts, Prada shoes and cocktail dresses. I quickly showered and put my game face on. I found half a croissant in the refrigerator and took it with me. When I got to the Palais it was a mess and jumping with people. Dinner was Escargot and that’s about all I remember.
Beach Pavilions behind Le Palais
No matter what country I’m in I wake up at 830am. I got my outfit together and did my hair. Took myself to the supermarket down the street for my favorite french hairspray and tanning oil. I also bought orangina, and fruit and vegetables. The hotel had a shuttle that runs to the festival and back every half hour. Le Croisette is a huge boulevard that runs forever along the water by the festival. All of life in Cannes is centered around it. I had to go shopping some more and find a place to exchange more money. The Euro is supposed to be getting weaker against the dollar but I wasn’t feeling it this trip. Euro doesn’t even feel like money. I like the American green much more. As I was passing the film office outside the marina and Angela found me on the street in passing by. We went to get our passes for the day at the office. We had tickets for a Canadian Film, My Name is Sandy. This little film struck a cord with me. It was about a French street hooker living in NYC. It was supposed to be a very serious dramatic film but I thought it was the funniest thing I had seen in a long time. There were stabs at the New York senators and racial profiling that made me nearly fall out of my chair. It actually inspired me to make a short about all types of hoes. The people who made it were very talented students and I was very impressed by the sound track.
After changing after lunch we headed back to the parties for the evening. When in Cannes there is a certain flow of daily and nightly activities. The morning you get your Cannes Market News to see whats playing and who is around. Step two get your day look together and find your way to the Palais. Step three, start drinking. Usually champagne because there is TONS of it flowing from everything. If you’re going to see a movie or not, hit the Pavilions situated around the marina and water. You have to have a Festival pass so it’s not just anybody strolling through. Every country and other major companies(like Kodak ect.) have a pavilion with drinks and Internet cafes and info on the films from that country that are showing. The American Pavilion even had a lecture hall with guest speakers. Some have full bars and restaurants others are a little less equipped.
The Chile Pavilion seemed to be the destination for happy hour or the Producers tent was another great place to meet people. After happy hour everybody disperses for dinner then after dinner its party time till whenever you fall over board or wander home. Yacht parties in Cannes are like nothing you have ever seen. 60 and 75 foot yachts look like bath toys. Essentially if your yacht isn’t at least 150 feet, don’t even get in the water. Dolce an Gabbana had their yacht the Regina D’Italia there. The Chopard Party was hosted on Xanadu.
To be continued…..
