Cannes Film Festival Begins Today

In Cannes, the gorgeous resort city in the southern coast of France, Wednesday marks the beginning of the annual Cannes Film Festival. Since 1946, Cannes has been one of the world’s oldest and most important film festivals, and this year the festival celebrates its 64^th anniversary.

The festival showcases films from around the world and serves as an important venue for filmmakers to share their work. Cannes Film Festival is also a major marketplace for international distributors to discover new talent and unique projects before anyone else.

Filmmakers vying for a Cannes award, or the prestigious Palme d’Or (“Golden Palm”) submit their work for consideration to one of the festival’s five juries.  This year the festival has a prestigious group lined up; Robert DeNiro will serve as President of the Jury, he is joined by British actor Jude Law, and American actress Uma Thurman.

Directors serve on the juries as well, “Science of Sleep” auteur Michel Gondry will preside over the short film category, while other directors on the juries include “Paris, je’taime” director, Olivier Assayas, African film director Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, and Hong Kong director Johnnie To. Already the festival is abuzz with anticipation about the debut of Woody Allen’s new film “Paris at Night.” Starring Owen Wilson and Rachel McAdams, “Paris at Night” is the story of an American lost in Paris, until he discovers the truly magical after-hours nightlife in the city of light.

Along with serving as a stage for cinematic excellence, the festival also offers the fashion industry an opportunity to showcase their best and newest creations. Fashionistas and trendspotters set their sights on the Cannes red carpet every year to watch as celebrities don the newest designer duds.

Already “Puss in Boots” star Salma Hayek has made quite a stir with a deep orange Gucci dress with a voluminous floral shrug. Woody Allen muse Rachel McAdams, is also feeling floral details, as seen on her white Maxime Simoens shift.  And they’re just the first to arrive, celebs flock to Cannes for some major face time with the press and some serious star treatment; Cannes being a nautical playground for the world’s elite.

The festival is off to an exciting start, with screenings of highly anticipated films like Terrence Malik’s “The Tree of Life” and an appearance by Lady Gaga still on the way, this year’s Cannes Film Festival has all the makings of an excellent year for film and fashion lovers alike.

Learn more about the festival here.