The Cannes Festival (; French: Festival de Cannes), named until 2002 as the International Film Festival (Festival international du film) and known in English as the Cannes Film Festival, is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres, including documentaries, from all around the world. Founded in 1946, the invitation-only festival is held annually (usually in May) at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès.
On 1 July 2014, co-founder and former head of French pay-TV operator Canal+, Pierre Lescure, took over as President of the Festival, while Thierry Fremaux became the General Delegate. The board of directors also appointed Gilles Jacob as Honorary President of the Festival.
The 2017 Cannes Film Festival, its 70th anniversary, took place between 17 and 29 May 2017. The jury president was Pedro Almodóvar, and The Square, directed by Ruben Östlund, won the Palme d'Or.
History
The early years
The Cannes Film Festival has its origins in 1932 when Jean Zay, the French Minister of National Education, on the proposal of historian Philippe Erlanger and with the support of the British and Americans, set up an international cinematographic festival. Its origins may be attributed in part to the French desire to compete with the Venice Film Festival, which at the time was shocking the democratic world by its fascist bias. The first festival was planned for 1939, Cannes was selected as the location for it, but the funding and organization were too slow and finally the beginning of World War II put an end to this plan.
On 20 September 1946, twenty-one countries presented their films at the First Cannes International Film Festival, which took place at the former Casino of Cannes. In 1947, amid serious problems of efficiency, the festival was held as the "Festival du film de Cannes", where films from sixteen countries were presented. The festival was not held in 1948 and 1950 on account of budgetary problems. In 1949, the Palais des Festivals was expressly constructed for the occasion on the seafront promenade of La Croisette, although its inaugural roof, while still unfinished, blew off during a storm. In 1951, the festival was moved to spring to avoid a direct competition with the Venice Festival which was held in autumn.
1950s and 1960s
During the early 1950s the festival attracted a lot of tourism and press attention, with showbiz scandals and high profile personalities love affairs. At the same time, the artistic aspect of the festival started developing. Because of controversies over the selection of films, the Critics' Prize was created for the recognition of original films and daring filmmakers. In 1954 the Special Jury Prize was awarded for the first time. In 1955, the Palme d'Or was created, replacing the Grand Prix du Festival which had been given until that year. In 1957, Dolores del RÃo was the first female member of the jury for the official selection.
In 1959, the Marché du Film (Film Market) was founded, giving the festival a commercial character and facilitating exchanges between sellers and buyers in the film industry. Today it has become the first international platform for film commerce. Still, in the 1950s some outstanding films, like Night and Fog in 1956 and Hiroshima, My Love in 1959 were excluded from the competition for diplomatic concerns. Jean Cocteau, three times president of the jury in those years, is quoted to have said: "The Cannes Festival should be a no man's land in which politics has no place. It should be a simple meeting between friends."
In 1962, the International Critics' Week was born, created by the French Union of Film Critics as the first parallel section of the Cannes Film Festival. Its goal was to showcase first and second works by directors from all over the world, not succumbing to commercial tendencies. In 1965, an hommage was paid to Jean Cocteau after his death, and he was named Honorary President for life. That year, Olivia de Havilland was named the first female president of the jury, while the next year Sofia Loren became president.
The 1968 festival was halted on 19 May. Some directors, such as Carlos Saura and Miloš Forman, had withdrawn their films from the competition. On 18 May, filmmaker Louis Malle along with a group of directors took over the large room of the Palais and interrupted the projections in solidarity with students and labour on strike throughout France, and in protest to the eviction of the then President of the Cinémathèque Française. The filmmakers achieved the reinstatement of the President, and they founded the Film Directors' Society (SRF) that same year. In 1969, the SRF, led by Pierre-Henri Deleau created the Directors' Fortnight (Quinzaine des Réalisateurs), a new non-competitive section that programs a selection of films from around the world, distinguished by the independent judgment displayed in the choice of films.
1970s and 1980s
During the 1970s, important changes occurred in the Festival. In 1972, Robert Favre Le Bret was named the new President, and Maurice Bessy the General Delegate. He introduced important changes in the selection of the participating films, welcoming new techniques, and relieving the selection from diplomatic pressures, with films like MASH, and later Chronicle of the Years of Fire marking this turn. In some cases, these changes helped directors like Tarkovski overcome problems of censorship in their own country. Also, until that time, the different countries chose the films that would represent them in the festival. Yet, in 1972, Bessy created a committee to select French films, and another for foreign films.
In 1978, Gilles Jacob assumed the position of General Delegate, introducing the Caméra d'Or award, for the best first film of any of the main events, and the Un Certain Regard section, for the non-competitive categories. Other changes were the decrease of length of the festival down to thirteen days, thus reducing the number of selected films; also, until that point the Jury was composed by Film Academics, and Jacob started to introduce celebrities and professionals from the film industry.
In 1983, a new, much bigger Palais des Festivals et des Congrès was built to host the festival, while the Directors' Fortnight remained in the old building. The new building was nicknamed "The Bunker", provoking a lot of criticism, especially since it was hardly finished at the event and several technical problems occurred. In 1984, Pierre Viot replaced Robert Favre Le Bret as President of the Festival. In his term, the Festival started including films from more countries, like Philippines, China, Cuba, Australia, India, New Zealand and Argentina. In 1987, for the first time of the Festival, a red carpet was placed at the entrance of the Palais. In 1989, during the first Cinéma & liberté forum, hundred directors from many countries signed a declaration "against all forms of censorship still existing in the world".
1990s to the present
In 1998 Gilles Jacob created the last section of the Official Selection: la Cinéfondation, aiming to support the creation of works of cinema in the world and to contribute to the entry of the new scenario writers in the circle of the celebrities. The Cinéfondation was completed in 2000 with La Résidence, where young directors could refine their writing and screenplays, and in 2005 L'Atelier, which helps twenty directors per year with the funding of their films. Gilles Jacob was appointed Honorary President in 2000, and in 2002 the Festival officially adopted the name Festival de Cannes.
During the 2000s the Festival started focusing more on the technological advances taking place in the film world, especially the digital techniques. In 2004, the restored historical films of the Festival were presented as Cannes Clasics, which included also documentaries. In 2007 Thierry Frémaux became General Delegate. In 2009 he extended the Festival in Buenos Aires, as La Semana de Cine del Festival de Cannes, and in 2010 he created the Cannes Court Métrage for the Short Film competition. In 2017 along with the 70th anniversary events of the Festival, the issue of changing the rules on theatrical screening came up with divided opinions about it.
Programmes
The Cannes Film Festival is organised in various sections:
- The Official Selection â€" The main event of the festival.
- In Competition â€" The twenty films competing for the Palme d'Or. They are projected in the Théâtre Lumière.
- Un Certain Regard â€" Twenty films selected from cultures near and far; original and different works. They are projected at the Salle Debussy.
- Out of Competition â€" These films are also projected in the Théâtre Lumière but do not compete for the main prize.
- Special Screenings â€" The selection committee chooses for these films an environment specially adapted to their particular identity.
- Cinéfondation â€" About fifteen shorts and medium-length motion pictures from film schools over the world are presented at the Salle Buñuel.
- Short Films â€" The shorts competing for the Short Film Palme d'Or are presented at Buñuel and Debussy theatres. There are approximately 10 films in this competition.
- Cannes Classics â€" It celebrates the heritage of film, aiming to highlight works of the past, presented with brand new or restored prints.
- Cinéma de la Plage â€" Screening of Cannes Classics and Out of Competition films for the mass public on Macé beach, preceded by a programme dedicated to film music.
- Parallel Sections â€" These are non-competitive programmes dedicated to discovering other aspects of cinema.
- International Critics' Week â€" From 1962, it focuses on discovering new talents and showcases first and second feature films by directors from all over the world.
- Directors' Fortnight â€" From 1969, it cast its lot with the avant-garde, even as it created a breeding ground where the Cannes Festival would regularly find its prestigious auteurs.
- Tous les Cinémas du Monde â€" It showcases the vitality and diversity of cinema across the world. Each day, one country is invited to present a range of features and shorts in celebration of its unique culture, identity and recent film works.
- Caméra d'Or â€" It rewards the best first film of the Festival, choosing among the debutants' works among the Official Selection, the Directors' Fortnight and the International Critics' Week selections.
- Other Sections â€" Produced by outside organisations during the Cannes Festival.
- ACID (Association for Independent Cinema and its Distribution)
- Events
- Marché du Film â€" The busiest movie market in the world.
- Masterclasses â€" Given in public by world-renowned filmmakers.
- Tributes â€" Honors internationally renowned artists with the presentation of the Festival Trophee following the screening of one of their films.
- Producers Network â€" An opportunity to make international co-productions.
- Exhibitions â€" Each year, an artist, a body of work or a cinematographic theme becomes the focus of an exhibition that diversifies or illustrates the event's programme.
- 60th Anniversary â€" Events organised in 2007 dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the Festival.
Authorities of the Festival
The President of the Festival, who represents the Festival in front of its financial partners, the public authorities and the media, is elected by the board of directors of the Festival, officially named the "French Association of the Film Festival". The Board is composed of authorities of the world of cinema, as well as of public authorities which subsidize the event. The President has a renewable 3-year mandate and appoints the members of his team, including the General Delegate, with the approval of the board of directors. Sometimes a President, after his last term, becomes the Honorary President of the Festival.
The General Delegate is responsible for the coordination of the events. When Gilles Jacob passed from General Delegate to the position of the President, in 2001, two new positions were created to take over his former post, the General Director to oversee the smooth running of the event, and the Artistic Director, responsible for the selection of films. However, in 2007, the Artistic Director Thierry Fremaux, became again the General Delegate of the Festival.
The general secretary is responsible for the reception of works and other practical matters.
Juries
Prior to the beginning of each event, the Festival's board of directors appoints the juries who hold sole responsibility for choosing which films will receive a Cannes award. Jurors are chosen from a wide range of international artists, based on their body of work and respect from their peers. The appointment of the President of the Jury is made following several annual management proposals made in the fall and submitted to the Festival's board of directors for validation.
- Feature Films â€" An international jury composed of a President and various film or art personalities, who determine the prizes for the feature films in Competition.
- Cinéfondation and Short Films â€" Composed of a President and four film personalities. It awards the Short Film Palme d'Or as well as the three best films of the Cinéfondation.
- Un Certain Regard â€" Composed of a President, journalists, students in cinema, and industry professionals. It awards the Un Certain Regard Prize for best film and can, moreover, honour two other films.
- Caméra d'Or â€" Composed of a President, as well as film directors, technicians, and French and international critics. They award the best film in any category.
The jury meets annually at the historic Villa Domergue to select the winners.
Awards
The most prestigious award given at Cannes is the Palme d'Or ("Golden Palm") for the best film.
- Competition
- Palme d'Or â€" Golden Palm
- Grand Prix â€" Grand Prize of the Festival
- Prix du Jury â€" Jury Prize
- Palme d'Or du court métrage â€" Best Short Film
- Prix d'interprétation féminine â€" Best Actress
- Prix d'interprétation masculine â€" Best Actor
- Prix de la mise en scène â€" Best Director
- Prix du scénario â€" Best Screenplay
- Other Sections
- Prix Un Certain Regard â€" Young talent, innovative and audacious works
- Cinéfondation prizes â€" Student films
- Caméra d'Or â€" Best first feature film
- Given by Independent Entities
- Prix de la FIPRESCI â€" International Federation of Film Critics Prize
- Directors' Fortnight Prizes
- Prix Vulcain â€" Awarded to a technical artist by the CST
- International Critics' Week Prizes
- Prize of the Ecumenical Jury
- François Chalais Prize
- L'Å'il d'or â€" Best documentary film
- Trophée Chopard
- Palm Dog, for best canine performance.
- Queer Palm, for LGBT-related films.
Impact
The festival has become an important showcase for European films. Jill Forbes and Sarah Street argue in European Cinema: An Introduction (ISBNÂ 0333752104), that Cannes "became...extremely important for critical and commercial interests and for European attempts to sell films on the basis of their artistic quality" (page 20). Forbes and Street also point out that, along with other festivals such as the Venice Film Festival and Berlin International Film Festival, Cannes offers an opportunity to determine a particular country's image of its cinema and generally foster the notion that European cinema is "art" cinema.
Additionally, given massive media exposure, the non-public festival is attended by many movie stars and is a popular venue for film producers to launch their new films and attempt to sell their works to the distributors who come from all over the globe.
See also
- Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival
- Directors' Fortnight
- International Critics' Week
- List of Cannes Film Festival jury presidents
- List of Cannes Film Festival juries (Feature films)
- Marché du Film
- List of Palme d'Or winners
References
Further reading
- Coyle, Jake (10 May 2017). "Outcry over Netflix films prompts Cannes to change rules". CBC/Radio-Canada.Â
- Ford, Rebecca; Roxborough, Scott (17 May 2017). "Why Awards Hopefuls Are Losing Confidence in Cannes Debuts". The Hollywood Reporter.Â
- Mumford, Gwilym (17 May 2017). "Concrete flowerpots and drone killers: Cannes opens with beefed-up security". The Guardian.Â
- Books
- Bart, Peter; The Editors of Variety (1997). Cannes: Fifty Years of Sun, Sex & Celluloid: Behind the Scenes at the World's Most Famous Film Festival. Miramax Books. ISBNÂ 978-0786882953.Â
- Beauchamp, Cari; Behar, Henri (1992). Hollywood on the Riviera: The Inside Story of the Cannes Film Festival. William Morrow and Company. ISBNÂ 978-0688110079.Â
- Craig, Benjamin (2012). Cannes: A Festival Virgin's Guide (6 ed.). Cinemagine Media Publishing. ISBNÂ 978-0954173760.Â
- Jungen, Christian (2015). Hollywood in Canne$: The History of a Love-Hate Relationship (Film Culture in Transition). Amsterdam University Press. ISBNÂ 978-9089645661.Â
Media
- Footage from the 1946 Cannes Film Festival
- Retrospective footage of the Festival presented by INA in 2007
External links
- Cannes Film Festival official website (in English)
- Cannes Film Festival at the Internet Movie Database
- The History of the Festival at the official website
- Festival de Cannes at the official website of tourism in France 2017 (in French)
- Radio France Internationale coverage of the Cannes Film Festival 2017 (in English)
- Cannes Film Festival unofficial blog
- Cannes â€" A Festival Virgin's Guide â€" Detailed festival history and information for attendees
- Cannes Film Festival: A Potted History
- Cannes Film Festival at Curlie (based on DMOZ)