Cannes Film Festival Review

By Darlene Vazquetelles

Edited by Therese Mulgrew 

One of my dreams as an actress is to be able to show one of my movies at the Cannes Film Festival which takes place in the South of France each year.  This event, which first took place in September of 1946, is considered to be one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world.  It has launched the careers of directors such as Quentin Tarantino and Steven Soderbergh.  Attended by many movie stars, this festival 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.  The exposure you get is a dream for anyone in the film industry, especially the newcomers.  Unlike the Oscars, anyone can submit a film, which is then reviewed by international film representatives.  

The Best of Classical Cannes

What makes this festival so significant in the world of cinema is how it combines art, stardom, and finance.  The stars walking the red carpet, the multi-million dollar deals which are signed there every year attracts over 27,000 film industry representatives and countless tourists.  While thousands of films are submitted to the Cannes Film Festival every year, only about 50 feature films and 30 short films are included in the Official Selection, which is the main body of work that is the center of the festival. 

Here are some of my favorite moments on and outside of the red carpet:

• Although she didn’t have a film at the festival in 1953, French actress Brigitte Bardot hogged the headlines thanks to an extremely brief bikini. The shots taken of her at the beach made the new-fangled bikini a huge hit in the fashion world. She became one of the most famous faces associated with Cannes, or maybe even all of France. It represents the carefree, distinct glamour of the beachside festival. 

History of the first bikini - Brigitte Bardot (center photo) makes a splash at the 1957 Cannes Film Festival.

• Madonna displays cone-shaped bra designed by French Jean-Paul Gaultier as she leaves the Cannes Festival Palace after the screening of her movie 'in Bed with Madonna' on May 13, 1991.

• Sophia Loren, Alain Delon, Romy Schneider, 1962 © AFP

The 2014 Cannes Film Festival, which celebrates its 67th edition will be held from May 14-25. Already controversial film "Grace of Monaco" (starring Nicole Kidman portraying icon Grace Kelly) kicks off the festival on Wednesday.  Among the other films that will be presented at this year's film marketplace are:  "Bird People", "The Captive", "Clouds of Cils Maria", "Foxcatcher", "The Homesman", "Jauja", "Lost Rivers", "Maps to the Stars", "The Search", "Two Days, One Night", and "The Rover".  Expect to see stars such as Robert Pattinson, Ryan Gosling, Cate Blanchet, Ryan Reynolds, Channing Tatum, Julianne Moore, Kristen Stewart, and of course, Nicole Kidman. 

To stay up to date as to the red carpet, film premiers and special events at this annual event you can visit the offical page here. 

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