The major goal of the International Cannes film festival has always been to draw attention to the work of French and foreign filmmakers, to elevate the reputation of their films, and to promote the film industry across the world. Since the inaugural festival in 1946, in a tiny French coastal village, all of its participants have stayed faithful to this principle. Since then, Cannes has grown into an international luxury resort known for its glitzy film festival, which attracts the world’s best actors and actresses. The festival has become a popular gathering place for industry executives as well as film fans and people interested in the lives of their favorite actors. A jury of industry specialists, chaired by an elected jury president, decides on the winners. Cate Blanchett, an Australian actress, will preside over the 71st edition’s jury. Here are some interesting facts about the Internation Cannes Film Festival.
Interesting facts about the Internation Cannes Film Festival
Jean-Gabriel Domergue, Toulouse Lautrec’s cousin, designed the first Cannes Festival poster. He planned it for 1939. But the event was canceled owing to the outbreak of World War II.
The Cannes Festival was the idea of Philippe Erlanger, the French Association of Artistic Action Director (AFAA), and cinema critics Emile Vuillermoz and Rene Jeanne.
The Palme d’Or or Golden Palm was created in 1955. The festival’s organizers invited jewelers to compete for the trophy’s design. The design by Lucienne Lazon was chosen. Chopard, a Swiss firm, has been in charge of producing the award since 1997.
The renowned 24 stairs in which the world’s most famous personalities walk, require 60 meters of carpet. It is replaced three times a day during the film festival.
The jury sessions are always at the Domergue Villa in the California quarter since the mid-1990s. The mansion was a creation by Jean-Gabriel Domergue in the 1930s and is available to the public. It’s a model which is after a Florentine palace.
Only Frenchmen presided over the Cannes Festival jury from 1946 until 1959. Belgian Georges Simenon, however, defied the trend in 1960. For the first time in Cannes Festival history, an Australian, George Miller, was the jury head two years ago.
Photographers declined to capture Isabelle Adjani on the red carpet in 1983. The French actress skipped both the press briefing and picture call which they considered insulting. In 1975, Paul Newman had a similar incident.
