Cannes Film Festival
I’ve been attending the Cannes Film Festival (for the record, it’s pronounced “Can” or “Ken”, but not “Con,” which is an insult in French) since 2015 when I first went as a last minute diversion from a friends wedding that I was attending in Norway, and the magic and charm of the place hasn’t worn off since. It’s one of the few places in the world where the combination of the stunning light, the deep blues in the water, the outstanding food, and the natural grace and elegance of the people comes together to create the perfect storm of surreality, and I can’t seem to get enough of it! Oh, and there’s a film festival with celebs and amazing arthouse films as well :)
Nikki Beach
During my first trip, I planned almost nothing and somehow managed to have an incredible time, despite the fact that most folks who attend plan their trips many months in advance. A room spontaneously opened in Hotel Du Cap where all of the biggest galas occur (this hotel is always completely booked during the festival, and they don’t offer any stays under two weeks, so I was very lucky), we were able to attend The De Grisogono Gala, I met one of my childhood influences, Irina Shayk and we had a chat and a toast, and I got to see some films from up-and-coming directors. During subsequent trips, I’ve been sponsored by different French fashion and beauty companies, and it’s always a delight to collaborating with iconic brands like these, so expect to see me back in Cannes in the Spring!
I’m going to list some of my favorite activities and pastimes while in Cannes and environs, and I’d love to hear yours if you’ve been as well, so please leave me your comments in the section below!
Favorite Things to Do:
Starting on the Croisette (the main promenade where all of the hotels, theaters, beach clubs, and festival activities are located), the Carlton Hotel has been around since the turn of the 20th century, and it’s long been known as the most important destination for film stars, directors, and producers looking to conduct business during Cannes. The rooms in this hotel are almost always booked during the festival, but having a glass of champagne on the terrace or a power breakfast in the morning is always a good idea – you’ll be surrounded by all the glitterati and the who’s who of the global film industry.
Carlton Hotel
Take a stroll up the road a bit, and you’ll arrive at the Hotel Martinez, which is a bit newer, so you’ll see more new media, influencers, models and other types in this property, and it’s also quite chic. There’s also the Barriere Majestic, which is another stronghold for film industry professionals, and is directly across from the Palais des Festivals, which is the main venue for all film festival activities. Strolling along the Croisette is an activity unto itself, and you’ll see many roped off, private beaches like Nikki Beach and restaurants like Baoli where you’ll need a reservation to join the fun, but if you don’t have one, don’t fret – you can always ask a concierge to try making a reservation for you, or you can use apps like Inlist.
Hotel Du Cap-Eden-Roc
Hotel Du Cap-Eden-Roc
Further afield in Antibes (which is the sleepier, more local version of the Cote D’Azur) lies the Hotel Du Cap-Eden-Roc, which is one of the most stunning hotels I’ve ever had the pleasure of staying in, and is the epicenter for all of the mega-galas, parties, fundraisers and black tie events that occur during Cannes. Visit to walk the sensationally pretty, manicured grounds, take in the sweeping vistas that lead down to the sea, and have a drink at the bar for good measure. Oh, and if you’re not there during the festival and would like to stay at the hotel, prepare to part with a small fortune!
Hotel Du Cap-Eden-Roc
Traveling even further outside of Cannes, no visit to this part of the world would be complete without a bit of history and culture – I strongly recommend checking out Colombe d’Or, which is a hotel in Saint-Paul de Vence that allowed the painters of the day, including Leger, Matisse, Picasso, Calder, Braques, Miro, Chagall, to pay for their stays in canvases rather than cash, which they had little of during the war, and has amassed one of the largest collections of modern art in the region. All of the famous literary figures, film stars and European royals have stayed at the hotel, and having dinner there surrounded by the paintings, you feel as though you might be in your living room. While you’re in the neighborhood, check out the Matisse Chapel nearby.
Cap Ferrat
Villa Ephrussi
Villa Ephrussi
Inside the villa
When you’re ready to bolt to Cap Ferrat, which is the priciest bit of real estate in the region, I highly suggest a trip to Villa Ephrussi, which is a large botanic garden and estate that was curated by Baroness Beatrice de Rothschild. The villa is surrounded by nine gardens with different themes, including French, Spanish, Japanese, Florentine, Provençal, et al, and the views to the sea are otherworldly.
Film Festival
In order to attend the films in competition, you need both an accreditation (e.g. festival badge) and a ticket to the specific movie that you’d like to attend. You can either get one from the people involved in the film if you have contacts in the film industry, but you also need to prove that your work relates to the film industry in some way in order to receive the badge. There are morning, afternoon and evening premieres throughout the festival, however, only the evening ones are black tie and have photographers, and participants are required to wear gowns for women and and black tie for men. The morning screenings tend to be casual, and there’s no need to dress up and no paparazzi in sight.
I’ve been lucky enough to score credentials and tickets to numerous films since my first visit, and I’ve seen films such as Bacarau by Kleber Mendonça Filho, The Dead Don’t Die by Jim Jarmusch, and many others.
§Hint: You can watch the movie in the theaters but not the Palais - even if you don’t have a badge and not officially invited, you can still watch different films from up and coming directors in the quinzanne, Semine de la critique. The Marche inside of Palais is strictly for film professionals, and may not be interesting to those outside of the film industry.
Prices in Cannes during other months are very low, but during festival time the prices go up significantly, so you’ll want to budget for this in advance.
Have you guys been to Cannes? If so, let me know what you think of this guide and share your comments and suggestions in the field below. Looking forward to seeing you there!
Monaco