The Cannes Film Festival is held every year in May and a host of A-list celebrities come to town wearing their finest and parlaying and partying for all their worth. Film stars, film makers, film backers and distributors will all be there as this picturesque town turns into the centre of the film universe.
Where to spot the stars in Cannes, France
If you want a piece of the action take your place near the red carpet entrance at the Palais des Festivals. The official screenings that take place there are reserved but you can see the arrivals of stars whose films are showing. Star watchers start to take their spaces après midi so get there a little earlier for a good spot.
You can also go star-spotting in the town and along the promenade – La Croisette. La Croisette is a 2 km long road which runs along the sea front and is lined with exclusive and very expensive shops, hotels, bars and restaurants. It was named “The Champs-Elysees by the sea” by Maurice Chevalier many years ago and that feeling still exists today.
Book into one of the glamorous and glitzy hotels where the stars stay or book a table at one of the trendy restaurants in town and hope that one of your favourite actresses is in there eating a lettuce leaf! The Carlton Hotel is always popular with celebrities and has a choice of several bars and restaurants. You can also try the Café Roma, La Maison du Porto or Fouquet’s at the Hôtel Majestic Barrière. The original Fouquet’s in Paris was the scene of Nicolas Sarkozy’s election partying which was so badly received by the French public due to its image as THE place for the wealthy to eat. Le Fouquet’s in Cannes though is a little less forbidding and more approachable.
If you want to see one of the films that’s being showcased head to the Cannes Cinephiles booth just outside the Palais des Festivals. Cannes Cinéphiles is an event organised by Cannes Cinéma and the Festival de Cannes to provide public screenings from the Official Selection, as well as films from the parallel sections (unofficial selection) and the ACID (Director’s choice).
Contact Cannes Cinéma: www.cannes-cinema.com
Restaurants the stars go to in Cannes, France
Fouquet’s, 10 La Croisette
Café Roma, Square Mérimée
La Maison du Porto, Square Mérimée
Carlton Hôtel, 58 La Croisette
Official website of the Cannes Festival: www.festival-cannes.org
For more events in France see our great events section.
Cannes Film Festival website: http://www.festival-cannes.fr/en.html
What are the dates exactly, the tourism page doesn't successfully translate to English.
Hi Elizabeth, thanks for the email – this event is held each Easter – this year its 28-31 March, hope you have fun there, best wishes,