What is the Cannes Film Festival?

One of the biggest media and cultural events on the planet, the prestigious Cannes Film Festival needs no introduction. Synonymous with cinema, the festival is a 10-day celebration of international cinema, where the biggest names in Hollywood walk the red carpet alongside rising stars from all over the world.

Founded in 1938 and inaugurated in 1946, the mission of the Festival de Cannes has always been to raise the profile of the film industry with the aim of contributing towards the development of cinema. Thanks to this commitment to the 7th art, over the last 75 years, some of the greatest movies of all time have been awarded with a Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.

More than just a festival, Cannes is also one of the biggest film markets in the world with the Marché du Film forming an integral part of festival week. Conceived as an inspirational environment for the film industry to present and discover films, today over 12,500 industry professionals head to Cannes each year to exchange information, network and promote their films and projects in development.

Who attends the Cannes Film Festival?

Strictly an industry-only event, the Cannes Film Festival sees over 40 000 guests head to the Croisette each year. In addition to the biggest movie stars in the world, you’ll find the following film industry professionals on the red carpet in Cannes :

• Actors
• Directors
• Models
• Musicians
• Celebrities
• Artists
• Production Agencies
• Screenwriters
• Composers
• Costume Designers
• Investors
• Buyers
• Programmers

Discover the programme for the Cannes Film Festival:

Organised in several sections, the 10-day film festival includes screenings of the films both in and out of competition, promotional events themed around the year’s biggest films, master classes given by world-renowned directors and a series of awards ceremonies culminating with the prestigious Palme d’Or which is awarded to the best film each year.

Parallel to the official programme, the Cannes Film Festival also features an alternative programme which includes International Critics' Week, Directors' Fortnight and the Producers Network plus the Tous les Cinémas du Monde event which is dedicated to showcasing diversity and vitality in film throughout the world.

During festival week, the private beaches along the Croisette light up every night with a wide range of social events from parties, cocktail receptions and charity galas to public events like the Cannes Classic series and the always popular Cinéma de la Plage movie screenings held on the Macé Beach each night.

What else goes on during the Cannes Film Festival?

During the daytime, the focus is on the Film Festival’s many business and networking events but as the sun goes down over the Mediterranean, Hollywood’s brightest stars come out to play. A whirlwind of screenings, parties, galas and black-tie dinners, the Cannes Film Festival is the highlight of the city’s social calendar every year. Many of the Festival’s most exclusive events take place behind closed doors with the most sought-after invitations to prestigious events including:

• The Chopard’s Gentleman’s Evening
• The Magnum Party
• The Vanity Fair Party
• The Eva Longoria Global Gift Gala
• The Jean Pigozzi Pool Party
• The Nikki Beach Annual Pop Up
• The IMDb Dinner
• The De Grisogono Party
• The Belvedere Party
• The Moet & Chandon Yacht Party
• The Chopard Trophée Annual Dinner and Party
• The Philipp Plein Fashion Show
• The L'Oréal Cinema Club Party
• The Kering Women in Motion Awards Dinner
• The AmFAR Gala

In addition to the hip celebrity parties and glittering galas, the Film Festival is also an important platform for luxury brands worldwide with high-profile events taking place throughout the festival fortnight. The ideal opportunity for companies to highlight a new brand ambassador or launch a new collection, during Festival fortnight, bars, clubs, hotels and even offices all over Cannes play host to fashion shows, pop-up stores, brand launches and luxury collaborations with both fashion and technology brands.

What to look for when choosing a venue for your side event during the Cannes Film Festival?

When planning your side event for the Cannes Film Festival, the most important thing is finding the right venue. The best way to set the scene for your function, once you find the perfect space to host your guests, chances are that everything else will come together. To help you start planning, here are some of the factors to take into consideration when choosing a venue in Cannes:

Cost:

With venues for all budgets in Cannes, cost is definitely one of the most important factors to consider when planning your event. To make sure you stay within budget when reserving, we recommend being as flexible as possible with the date and time of your event as you may be able to get a reduction on the rental cost if you’re willing to work around the venue’s availability. We also recommend planning ahead and booking as early as possible in order to get the best reservation rates for your stay in Cannes.

Location:

With so much going on during the 2-week Film Festival, the location of your venue is definitely crucial to making sure your event is a success. While the bars and hotels in the centre of Cannes are easily accessible, they are more expensive and tend to book up early so it’s definitely worth considering more atypical venues such as private apartments or converted office spaces to host your meeting or party. Additionally, if you’re planning an evening dinner or cocktail party, there are lots of exciting spaces on offer just outside the city centre which will really set your event apart from the rest.

Price starting from : 10,000€ | 200 guests

Price starting from : 75,00€ per person | 40 guests

Price starting from : 6,000€ a day | 80 guests

Atmosphere:

Once you’ve found the perfect venue, it’s time to set the scene for your Film Festival event. As with any event, it's important that your space in Cannes reflects your brand so you will need to choose a venue which can easily meet your requirements. Whether you’re looking to create an avant-garde ambiance for your product launch or a luxury feel to your dinner party, we recommend taking the time to consider how you can best adapt the space to meet your event needs.

Capacity:

When planning an event in Cannes during the Film Festival, size definitely matters. Depending on the type of event you’re planning and how many attendees you’re expecting, you’ll need to ensure that your chosen venue has the right capacity to allow your guests to move around comfortably. If the venue is too big, your guests might feel a little lost but equally if the floor plan is too tight, it might be difficult to fit everyone in comfortably. We recommend double checking the layout of the space you choose before booking to make sure your guests feel at home throughout the day.

Technology:

Depending on what type of event you’re planning to hold in Cannes, you will probably have some pretty specific technology requirements. If you’re planning a business presentation you may need a projection screen and audiovisual equipment whereas if you’re hosting a cocktail party you’ll want a lighting and music system. From WIFI access to PA systems, it’s always wise to check out what the venue can provide before making that final booking.

Outside Space:

The French Riviera enjoys around 300 days of sunshine every year so the end of May is definitely a great time to head to Cannes for the Film Festival fortnight. To really make the most of those blue skies and balmy temperatures, we highly recommend renting a venue with a private terrace or garden which will allow your guests to move seamlessly from the interior space to the exterior during the event.

Transport:

Whether you’re hosting a daytime event or an evening extravaganza, it’s always a good idea to make getting to and from the venue as easy as possible for your attendees. With traffic usually crazy during the Film Festival, we recommend organising a car or bus shuttle service for your attendees to and from the venue, plus valet parking for any guests who may have their own car service.

Services and amenities:

When it comes to planning your side event for the Cannes Film Festival, we know that only the very best will do for your guests. To help you create an unforgettable atmosphere for your Cannes Film Festival event, the Native Spaces team will be delighted to recommend local businesses, brands and service providers including:

• Sound & lighting providers
• Catering companies
• Furniture rental companies
• Printing & branding companies
• Transport services
• Hostesses & staffing agencies
• Florists
• Party planners
• Set designers
• Entertainment

Whether you’re putting together a high-tech business presentation or you’re going all out with a fabulous charity gala, we’re here to help. We can help you find not just the perfect venue but also creative caterers, stylish lighting and video production and completely unique entertainment options ranging from aerial artistes to illusionists, cocktail flarers, live event artists and more.

Our Top Tips for organising an unforgettable side event during the Cannes Film Festival:

Branding:

With so much going on during the Film Festival, everybody wants to stand out from the crowd. To make sure your event best represents your company, we can help you find a marketing team to ensure you are as visible as possible during the festival. Let them create a buzz with an app or a website to promote your event, an event hashtag to make sure your guests can tag you on their social media or a social wall to encourage attendees to share their experiences of the event. With a little help from the team here at Native Spaces, we’ll make sure everybody’s talking about you.

Lighting:

Once you’ve found the ideal venue for your Film Festival side event, it’s important to show it off to your guests. To help you set the scene for your big event, we can recommend event lighting services who will provide you with a unique, custom-designed lighting solution for your space. Project your company logo onto the walls with a light display, enhance the mood of your guests with coloured lights to complement your theme or take your event from day to night, we can arrange it all at the touch of a button.

Transportation:

When the Film Festival is in full swing, traffic in and around Cannes can get crazy so why not save your guests the time and hassle of sitting in traffic jams and arrange transportation services for them instead. We can recommend limousine, minibus or helicopter transfer services with English-speaking chauffeurs who will pick your guests up at the airport or at their hotel and then take them wherever they need to go. Additionally, we can also arrange for a VIP meet & greet service at the airport to ensure that your clients enjoy a truly personalised service when travelling to and from Cannes.

Facts and figures:

● Official website: Cannes Film Festival ● Attendees: 12 500 ● Location: Palais des Festivals, Cannes, France ● Date: May ● Ticket price from: See website (Professionals Only)