The History of the Cannes Film Festival
The Birth and Growth of the World’s Most Prestigious Cinematic Event
May 26, 2009
The Cannes Film Festival is the most influential and prestigious of all the world’s film festivals. Established in 1946, it is also one of the oldest. Held each May in the town of Cannes on the French Riviera, it attracts A-list stars and top directors and producers, as well as first-time filmmakers and critics. It also draws a public as keen to see new films as they are to catch a glimpse of celebrities on Cannes’ famous red carpet.
The First Cannes Film Festival
Instigated by Jean Zay, the French Minister of Public Instruction and the Arts, the first Cannes Film Festival was planned for September 1939. The outbreak of World War II in the same month, however, forced the festival to be postponed. It was not until September 1946 that the first edition went ahead.
Financial woes meant the festival did not take place in 1948 or 1950. In 1952, it was moved from September to May and has taken place every year in the spring since.
The Palme d’Or
From the start, the festival’s main event has been the Official Selection. A jury elected by the festival’s Board of Directors prior to the start of the festival selects approximately 20 films to compete for the most coveted prize, the Palme d’Or (Golden Palm).
The Palme d’Or was initially called the Grand Prix (Grand Prize). In 1955, the decision was made to change its name. The Grand Prix still exists but is now the festival’s second most prestigious award.
The other important awards in this section of the festival are:
- Jury Prize
- Best Short Film
- Best Actress
- Best Actor
- Best Director
- Best Screenplay
The Expansion of the Festival
In 1978, Gilles Jacob was appointed the festival’s General Delegate. He introduced the Caméra d’Or (Golden Camera), a prize awarded to the best first feature film. The aim of the award was to promote new talent. Jacob became President of the festival in 2000, a position he still occupies.
Over the years, the festival has continued to develop and grow. In 1993, director Jane Campion was awarded the Palme d’Or for her film The Piano. This was the first time a woman had been awarded the top prize in the festival’s 47-year history. Short filmmakers had to wait until 2004 for their genre to receive widespread recognition with the launch of Short Film Corner, a market dedicated to promoting short films.
The Cannes Film Festival Today
Today, the festival is an important and highly anticipated fixture in the cinema industry calendar. Organizers estimate that in 2008 more than 3,500 journalists attended the event, while around 10,000 film buyers and sellers flocked to the Marché du Film.
Find out more about the Cannes Film Festival on the official website.
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