What is the Cannes Film Festival? While watching stars and professionals walk through this festival, we all wondered about the Cannes Film Festival. Well, the International Film Festival at Cannes is one of the biggest celebrations of world cinema. Hosted in the southern coastal city of France, the Cannes Film Festival is the most desired and anticipated festival for filmmakers and actors across the globe. The pomp and grandeur of the festival have always been on the media’s trending lists. Though this invite-only festival is not open to the public, cinephiles and everyone in the business eagerly wait for their favourite films to feature and actors to walk the festival.
The Cannes Film Festival bestows top honours across various film categories in May and June every year. The event’s zenithal award, Palme D’or, is awarded to the director of the festival’s best feature film. Though we all know that the festival is all about films, celebrities, paparazzi, and grandeur, there are things that you need to know about it. So here’s everything to answer your question, “What is the Cannes Film Festival?”
Page Contents
What is the history of the Cannes Film Festival?
In 1938, French film journalist Robert Fibre Le Bret took the initiative to start a free film festival after the Venice Film Festival was seen to be impartial under political influence. America, Britain and France immensely supported the festival.
The International Film Festival at Cannes was held in 1939 but had to be suspended during World War 2. In 1946, the festival was relaunched to celebrate cinema worldwide.
What is the Cannes Film Festival’s vision?
The Cannes Film Festival has become one of the biggest film festivals after the Venice Film Festival. This is solely accredited to its clear vision of celebrating world cinema with impartiality and fairness. Over the years, the festival has been home to many underrated films that gained popularity. Many Debut Directors winning the Cannes have amazingly influenced world cinema and the audience!
What are the award categories at the Festival?
The Cannes Film Festival has over 15 award categories. Besides the special honours and awards, some of the awards are Palme D’or, Grand Prix, Camera D’or, Best Short Film, Best Actor and Actress, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and more.
Which films are screened at the Film Festival?
Every year, the festival has over 2000 film entries from around the world. A panel of jury members is selected to cull the best films to feature at the festival. Since 2019, the jury has been officially revealed and consists of filmmakers, critics, and professionals who have been in the industry for a long time. In 2022, Deepika Padukone was one of the jury members at the Cannes Film Festival.
Which Indian Films have been honoured at the Festival?
Till 2021, Indian films have been highly praised at the Cannes Film Festival. Despite that, only 10 films have bagged awards at the Cannes Film Festival. In 1946, Chetan Anand’s Neecha Nagar won the Grand Prix, followed by Do Bigha Zameen and Boot Polish in 1954, Satyajit Ray’s Pather Panchali in 1956, and Mrinal Sen’s in 1983.
From 1988 to 2021, Salaam Bombay, Marana Simhasanam, The Lunchbox, Masaan and A Night of Knowing Nothing won awards at the festival. This year, Shaunak Sen’s All That Breathes won the Golden Eye Award at Cannes.
How to attend the Cannes Film Festival?
Attending the Cannes Film Festival is a dream for all cinephiles. However, the authorities do not allow public screenings during the festival, and it has been restricted to an invite-only festival for filmmakers and actors worldwide. However, some associated media houses arrange separate screenings in Cannes for film enthusiasts during the ongoing festival.
Controversies at the Cannes Film Festival
Often, with the grandeur and celebrations, certain controversies also make it to the columns. In 2015, some female attendees were not allowed on the red carpet for wearing flat shoes. As a result, many actresses walked the festival in flats or barefoot as a sign of protest. In the same year, taking selfies at the festival was also banned.
In light of the #MeToo movement, a telephone hotline was introduced at the Festival in 2018 for reporting sexual harassment and crimes. Since the same year, Netflix had to withdraw its movies because of the theatrical screening enforcement.
After the amazing and frantic Cannes Film Festival this year, we are all waiting for the next year’s magic. Until then, let us know in the comments below which films you want to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival 2023, and also share this with your friends to let them know what the Cannes Film Festival is!
For more such interesting content, follow us on Instagram and Facebook.
Also, read:
Here Is Why People Are Crazy About Korean Dramas
International Films That Are Completely Set In India
- Top 10 Upcoming Bollywood Movies In 2025 - March 22, 2025
- 12 Fun Bollywood Celeb Facts - June 2, 2024
- 9 Fierce Bigg Boss Fights That Were Too Hot To Handle - June 2, 2024