The 67th Annual Cannes International Film Festival is the talk of Hollywood. One of the elite festivals in the world, the invitation only event for film submissions has been around in its current form since 1947. Founded by French Minister of National Education Jean Zay, festival is one of the most recognizable gathering of movie works in the world. It is also a place where the biggest filmmakers and thespians of the silver screen gather as an annual rite of passage as they grace the red carpet. Actresses in gowns from world-renowned designers and tuxedo-adorned actors make grand entrances to the delight of the world paparazzi.
Co-founder of French cable network Canal Plus Pierre Lescure is president of this year’s festival running from May 14th through May 25. The festival has an accompaniment of over 60 official selections, among the most notable are Grace of Monaco (directed by Olivier Dahan), How to Train Your Dragon 2 (directed by Dean DeBlois), The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby (directed by Ned Benson), Timbuktu (directed by Abderrahmane Sissako), and Foxcatcher (directed by Bennett Miller). There are five categories into which film submissions are placed; Competition, Un Certain Regard, Out of Competition, Special screenings, and Short Films/Cinefondation. Special screenings will not be judged nor will films in the Out of Competition category.
New Zealand director Jane Campion is President of the Jury for Feature Films, Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami is President of the Jury for the Short Films/Cinefondation category, director Pablo Trapero is President of the Jury for Un Certain Regard and director Nicole Garcia is President of the Jury for the Camera d’or category (given to the first feature film for theatrical screening of 60 minutes or more by a director who has not released such a film before).
The Cannes Film Festival also screens Cannes Classics, films that celebrate the heritage of cinema by highlighting works of past presented with new or restored prints, as well as Tous les Cinemas du Monde, a showcase of the diversity of cinema from across the globe. The Golden Palm award is given to the overall best film at the festival.
