Cannes film festival
From May 14 to 25, 2019 will be held the 72nd edition of the Cannes Film Festival. At its head, we will meet Edouard Bear, the master of ceremonies, and Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, the president of the jury. The gratin of world cinema will be in Cannes for the presentation of new films. The Promenade de la Croisette welcomes filmmakers, photographers, actors during the second half of May. This boulevard of Cannes crystallizes the activity of the city during this short period of the year.
This international film competition is world famous, it is even the most publicized film festival. Its fame has been made in particular by the wide selection of films of important directors but also by its highlights like the rise of the markets for example. The festival rewards the film that has received the most attention from the jury (Grand Prix), the best director (staging prize) or the best actor and best actress (interpretation prize for men or women). Other prizes are put into play for more technical aspects of cinematography. The ultimate reward is the Palme d’Or, awarded best film award from a pre-selection.
From 1937, France seeks to create an important cultural festival on its territory. However, the Second World War delays this initiative. It is therefore only from 1946 that the first edition of the festival is held. It’s an immediate success: filmmakers like Fellini, Bergman, Truffaut and Robert Wise present their films at Cannes. For a long time, the festival was put in competition with the Venice Film Festival. As time passed, Cannes grew to a greater extent than its Venetian and Berlin counterparts.
The Festival has always been able to link to the news, provoking reactions and controversy. In May 1968, the student demonstrations interrupt the festival. The French filmmakers joined the movement and tanent the then Minister of Culture Andre Malraux. The festival will be canceled a few days later. In 2017, the selection of films for the Palme d’Or caused strong reactions on the Croisette. Two films, The Meyerowitz Stories and Okja, do not follow the traditional cycle of theatrical release. These are produced by Netflix, a platform offering streaming movies and TV series on the Internet. This is the first time that a film not coming out in theaters appeared among the contenders for the Palme d’Or.
Among the most anticipated films this year is Quentin Tarantino’s new feature film, Once Upona Time … In Hollywood. His casting is impressive with the presence of Leonardo Di Caprio, Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie. BongJoon-Ho, the Dardenne brothers, Ken Loach or Pedro Almodovar will present their films.