From May 11th to 22nd, the Croisette will once again move to the rhythm of the stars as they march uphill in a flash of glitter and drama. Chic and flashy perhaps, but the 68th edition of the Cannes Film Festival also promises to be an event that exudes glamour in a whirl of high fashion, discovery, new screenings, celebrity gossip and the presentation of the famous Palmes d’or.
Who will win the Palme?
The official Palmes d’Or selection was revealed in mid-April and it is both intriguing and suspenseful: festival regulars like Xavier Dolan, Ken Loach, the Dardenne brothers, Nicole Garcia, Olivier Assayas, Jim Jarmusch, Sean Penn and Pedro Almodovar, are just some of the lucky few. However, promising newcomers including Romanian Cristian Mungiu, Korea’s Park Chan-Wook or Filipino Brillante Mendoza may well surprise us. Plus, the always exciting selection for ‘Un Certain Regard’ section features no fewer than seven films from around the world this year. This not to be missed event is under the chairmanship of George Miller, that singularly Australian filmmaker to whom we owe Mad Max. The latest Woody Allen film, Café Society, will be opening this year’s festivities.
The 24 steps
All eyes are firmly fixed on those 24 steps. Whether you’re a film and cinema enthusiast or whether you enjoy all the celebrity and glamour of the event, you certainly don’t avert your eyes. For frankly, why would you want to look away from a parade of the world’s most famous and infamous stars? They’re dressed by some of the world’s most prestigious designers, complete with killer heels, slashed necklines and legs to die. Lace and tulle, classic designs and extravagant styles, diamonds, pearls and opals are everywhere you look, while crackling flashbulbs and bursts of applause provide a fitting backdrop. A smile, a signature, a word, a look, a laugh: the rumours, scandals, celebrity gossip and anecdotes are all a part of it. And yes, we’re there to admire it, to show our appreciation of an event that is glamorous, stylish and memorable.
~oOo~
Hôtel Burgundy Paris, a 5 star hotel in Paris, at the heart of the 1st district