Cannes Film Festival is one of the most prestigious and important film festivals in the world, and Cannes Film Festival 2023 is sure to follow with this illustrious history. It is called le Festival de Cannes in France, and it is held in May in the French Riviera city that has become synonymous with the wealthy and privileged who made this a glittering winter vacation destination beginning with the Belle Epoque era at the end of the nineteenth century. The finest Cannes luxury hotels and most opulent seaside villas date to this period.

Cannes Film Festival History and Facts

The historic roots of the Cannes Film Festival lie in the lead-up to World War II. It was originally conceived in the early 1930s as an answer to the international film festival that was held in Venice, Itay. While this particular film showcase remains one of today's most prestigious, it was used by the Mussolini regime to promote its fascist agenda. The Venice grand prize was then known as the Mussolini Cup, and French sensibilities were outraged by the Venice festival's recognition of a film (Olympia) that glorified the Nazi Olympics held in Berlin in 1936 and an Italian film overseen by Mussolini's son. Le Festival de Cannes was envisioned as the free world's answer to Nazi totalitarianism.

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The hostilities of World War II interfered with this vision, and the first Cannes Film Festival was not held until 1946. Since then, it has grown into the world's most important film festival and has been held each spring (usually during May) in that Mediterranean resort city almost every year since. The Hollywood studio system injected a bit of sex appeal into the festival during the late 1950s, but it was Alfred Hitchcock's Oscar winning 1955 film To Catch a Thief that catapulted both the destination and the festival into popular consciousness. This film starred Cary Grant and Grace Kelly, who met Prince Rainier of Monaco during the filming and married him shortly thereafter. She became the iconic Princess Grace, bestowing a cachet upon Le Festival de Cannes that continues to this day.

Cannes Film Festival Tickets

Mere mortals from the general public have little chance of attending Cannes Film Festival screenings except for the public screenings at the Cinema de la Plage (beach cinema). It is possible, however, to rub elbows with the jet set glitterati or to at least live like one at a number of beaches and marinas from Marseille and St. Tropez to Nice.

Cannes Film Festival Hotels

If you do intend to head to Cannes during the Cannes Film Festival 2023, expect to pay a steep price to stay in the vicinity. Cannes hotels, especially those located along the water, are not cheap, but just about any of the hotels in the town of Cannes will put you in proximity of the stars. You may look into Hotel Martinez at 73 Boulevard de la Croisette, a street where you can find many of the best hotels in town. Others located here include the Carlton, Grand Hotel la Croisette, and the Majestic.

Do be aware, however that if you plan to visit this region during the film festival, you need to make your arrangements as far in advance as possible. You can still observe the proceedings on television, even if you have remained at home. Generally, the comings and goings of the stars show up on various news and entertainment programs. But really dedicated fans can catch a glimpse of the contenders by hanging out around the celebrity haunts. Just like at the Academy Awards in Los Angeles, the rule of thumb for catching a red carpet glimpse is to get there early—very early.