With the Cannes Film Festival approaching (from May 16 to 27, 2012), I remember that last year I experienced a magical week by seeing my first film festival from the inside.
I wanted to write a short article/summary of the Cannes tips you should know during the festival, for those who might be tempted by the adventure…
My goal is to show you what you can access, even without having secured one of those famous entry passes from the Cannes hierarchy.
Table of Contents
Invitations for Cannes locals:
If you live in Cannes, you can really enjoy the Festival. Indeed, Cannes City Hall reserves 1,500 invitations for local residents through a lottery (registration at Cannes City Hall with proof of address). After the festival, residents are also entitled to a post-screening of the Palme d’Or (tickets distributed on Sunday, May 27, 2012, starting at 9 a.m.).
All information is available on the Cannes City Hall website.
This year again, the City Hall festival booth is also distributing invitations every day from 9 a.m. for locals for the evening concert taking place at the Villa des Inrocks.
Free screenings open to all at the Cannes beach cinema:
Settled on a lounge chair, toes in the sand, festival-goers and locals are invited to come and discover numerous screenings every evening from May 16 to 27, during the Festival, at 9:30 p.m. on Macé beach.
Here is the program for the beach cinema, which will celebrate James Bond this year:
Thursday, May 17 – Dr. No by Terence Young – 1962
Friday, May 18 – Project A by Jackie Chan – 1983
Saturday, May 19 – The Joker by Philippe de Broca – 1961
Sunday, May 20 – Diamonds Are Forever by Guy Hamilton – 1971
Monday, May 21 – From Russia with Love by Terence Young – 1963
Tuesday, May 22 – Casino Royale by Martin Campbell – 2006
Wednesday, May 23 – On Her Majesty’s Secret Service by Peter Hunt – 1969
Thursday, May 24 – Jaws by Steven Spielberg – 1975
Saturday, May 26 – A surprise film to close the festival
Managing with a Cannes Cinéphiles accreditation:
Cannes Cinéphiles invitations (valid for one screening only) can be picked up daily (subject to availability) at the reception desks of the La Licorne, Studio 13, and Raimu theaters, or at the Espace Cannes Cinéphiles on the Pantiero. These invitations allow you to see films from all the festival selections that are rebroadcast for free in the theaters: La Licorne, Studio 13, and Raimu.
You must arrive early for the Cannes Cinéphiles screenings, otherwise, the screening might be full. For each screening, expect between 30 minutes and 1 hour of standing in line in front of the theater… pure bliss. Fortunately, free newspapers exist, and you can also get Nice Matin for free on the Croisette, which helps a lot!
And then there are also the hours of waiting in line every day for the brave who want to attend the official screenings. They are distributed at the Espace Cannes Cinéphiles on the Pantiero for accredited individuals, but you never know what time they will have invitations or what they will be, so it’s pot luck…
“Markets in Celebration” operation in Cannes:
Cannes markets take on a festive air and offer festive entertainment (music, gourmet buffet) on Saturday, May 19, at the Forville market at 11:30 a.m., Thursday, May 24, at the Gambetta market square at 11:30 a.m., and Saturday, May 26, at the La Bocca market at 12 p.m.
Tips from the Fnac in Cannes:
If you are in Cannes, I advise you to check out the local Fnac. During the festival, it offers numerous invitations to pick up (if you are a Fnac member), a daily competition to win tickets for Canal+’s Grand Journal, access to the red carpet walk, and meetings focused on cinema.
More information on their webpage, right here.
Invitations for the Villa des Inrocks:
Like last year, Les Inrocks magazine is setting up in the Villa Rotschild park and offering musical evenings during the Cannes fortnight.
Having frequented this place a lot last year, I highly recommend it; the setting is magnificent and the “open-air concert” atmosphere, as well as the open bar, end the exhausting day of the average festival-goer quite well.
All these tips are to convince you that even without accreditation, you can come to Cannes and access some cool things, even if you have to arm yourself with a lot of patience and not be afraid of crowds.
Because honestly, the primary quality of the Cannes festival-goer is patience! Happy Cannes Film Festival to everyone.
Find all my articles on Cannes and the Film Festival below:
⇒ All my articles on Cannes
⇒ All my articles on the PACA region
MY ARTICLES ON CANNES
⇒ The Cannes Film Festival
⇒ Visit the city of Cannes
Photo credits: Mademoiselle Bon Plan Photos are not royalty-free, photographer authorization mandatory before any use
