Cannes Film Festival

It is that time of year again...


Yes, it is the time of year for graduations, proms, and the start of summer activities...but it is also Cannes Film Festival time.


Le Festival du Cannes is the most renowned and prestigious film festival in the world, taking place in Cannes, France in late May over the course of 12 days, where new films of all genres, from all over the world are shown.


2012 marks the 65th anniversary of the Cannes Film Festival, as well as the 50th anniversary of the death of Marilyn Monroe, therefore the official poster of the festival features the iconic actress.

This year is one year in particular that I wish I could attend the festival and preview a multitude of some of this year's highly anticipated movies.


The festival opened on May 16 with the premiere of one my favorite director's new movie, Wes Anderson's Moonrise Kingdom, to positive reviews.

A few other features include On the Road, directed by Walter Salles and based on the famous Jack Kerouac novel:

as well as The Paperboy, Mud, Killing Them Softly, and Lawless, featuring actors such as Brad Pitt, Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, Jessica Chastain, John Cusack, and Matthew McConaughey. 

Notable films from other countries include Amour, Rust and Bone, Cosmopolis, and Paradise: Love.

Many other full-length films, short films and documentaries will also be shown at the festival. 

Other notable parts of the festival are The Cannes Classics: "showcasing restored prints of classic films and masterpieces of film history", and the largest film market in the world where more than 11,000 participants and around 4,000 films and projects will be presented this year.

Other events include masterclasses, exhibitions, non-competitive screenings highlighting films from different countries and that are "cutting edge", and tributes. Overall, it is 12 days where actors, directors, writers, producers, and movie-lovers in general can come together to celebrate films new and old (while Marilyn looks over everyone this year).

But my love for films and France is not the only reason the Cannes Film Festival is significant to me...

Me and Olivia (incredible girl)

Yup. That's me. Standing in front of the red carpet for the 63rd Cannes Film Festival in 2010.

When I participated in a study abroad program in Nice, France two years ago, my very first weekend there our group of students took the short 45-minute train ride to Cannes to see all of the festivities.

We obviously did not have or could afford tickets to any screenings, and we knew our chances of getting to see any actual stars was slim, but we wanted to go and see the theater and simply spend time in the beautiful city that plays host to the monumental film festival.

A few hours later, you could not get anywhere near the theater as crowds gathered trying to catch a glimpse of this gal:

But Cannes offered many other beautiful sights other than just the celebrities.

While I would love to be able to go back and actually attend the festival, Cannes is a beautiful place to visit any time of year.

Keep your eye out for the movies that were featured at the festival, and if you ever get the opportunity to attend this, or any film festival, or visit the South of France at any time, take it.