Cannes 101: Beyond the red carpet and standing ovations
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But behind the flashlights of paparazzi and flowing gowns lies a world that even seasoned cinephiles don't always understand. One that often gets overshadowed by the glam and the glitz.
Festival de Cannes – as the French call it – is a cinema lover's paradise. At this 10-day celebration, films from around the world are given a platform, standing ovations are tallied like Olympic scores, cinematic marvels are honoured, and entry is strictly limited to the film industry.
Who gets to go to Cannes?
Unlike many international film festivals, Cannes is an industry-only event. Screening tickets are not sold to the general public. Credentials are granted to directors, producers, actors, publicists, distributors, and journalists – all of whom must apply for a badge. If accepted, the badge must be carried for access to screenings.
However, film lovers have one option. Some films are played on the beach next to the Palais des Festivals at 9pm during the festival.
Cinephiles can queue up early to catch a beautiful piece of cinema under the stars (There are also some inventive ways, listed online, to 'crash' the festival).
Cannes Film Festival 2025 concluded in May.
How is Cannes pronounced?
Many people pronounce it as 'cahn' or even 'cahns,' but that is incorrect. The correct pronunciation of Cannes is similar to can. Since it's a French word, the trailing 's' is silent. Don't call it con – that's French slang.
How old is Cannes?
It all began with a healthy rivalry.
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Back in 1939, France decided it needed a cinematic showstopper to rival the glitzy Venice Film Festival. Jean Zay, then Minister for Education and Fine Arts, dreamed up an international cultural spectacle that would cement France's place at the heart of global cinema.
The stage was set. Louis Lumière, one of the fathers of cinema, was roped in as honorary president. Cannes was ready to roll out the red carpet – but World War II broke out, and the grand opening was abruptly shelved.
It wasn't until September 20, 1946 – more than a year after the war ended – that the French Riviera finally saw a beeline of stars.
Award categories at Cannes
The Official Selection at Cannes presents a diverse slate of films across several curated sections, each screened for the very first time before an audience of film professionals. Some sections culminate in awards, such as the Competition, Un Certain Regard, and La Cinef.
In Competition
Palme d'Or
(French for 'The Golden Palm')
Awarded for the first time in 1955 to the film Marty, directed by Delbert Mann, the Palme d'Or replaced the Grand Prix, which was awarded to the best film In Competition until then.
Around 20 films compete each year in the In Competition section for the festival's top honour, judged by a nine-member jury that changes annually. This year, French actress Juliette Binoche headed the jury.
The only Indian film to win the award remains Neecha Nagar (1946), directed by Chetan Anand.
The only Indian film to win the award remains Neecha Nagar (1946).
Grand Prix (Grand Prize)
This is the second-most prestigious award at Cannes, also judged by the Palme jury. In 2024, India saw Payal Kapadia and the film's wonderful cast – including Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha and Chhaya Kadam – receive the Grand Prix for All We Imagine As Light. This year, Joachim Trier's Sentimental Value won the honour.
All We Imagine As Light won Grand Prix award in 2024.
Prix du Jury (the Jury Prize)
According to American film critic Dave Kehr, the award is 'intended to recognise an original work that embodies the spirit of inquiry.' It is given to one of the films selected in the In Competition section. This year, the award was shared by Mascha Schilinski's Sound of Falling and Oliver Laxe's Sirat. In 1983, Mrinal Sen's Kharij, based on the novel by Ramapada Chowdhury, won the Jury Prize.
Cannes also honours cinematic excellence with awards for Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Screenplay. Over the years, it has occasionally introduced special categories – like in 1954, Bimal Roy's Do Bigha Zamin won the International Prize, and in 1956, Satyajit Ray's Pather Panchali was awarded Best Human Document.
Un Certain Regard (A Certain Glance)
Introduced in 1978, Un Certain Regard is a part of the Official Selection, but it has its own separate jury, its own set of awards, and is meant to recognise young talent and 'encourage innovative and audacious works' by presenting one of the films with a grant to aid its distribution in France.
The broader categories in the section include Jury Award, Best Actress, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Actor.
However, the festival sometimes hands out awards to films in several other categories as well. India has had its share of glory here too – from Neeraj Ghaywan's Masaan winning the Prix Avenir Prometteur (Promising Future) in 2015 to Anasuya Sengupta's recent Best Actress win.
Neeraj Ghaywan's Masaan won the Prix Avenir Prometteur (Promising Future) in 2015.
Camera d'Or
This one's for the debut filmmakers.
Every year, a dedicated six-member jury at Cannes hands out a special prize to the best first film across the entire festival – whether it's screened in the Official Selection or tucked away in a parallel section. What qualifies? The filmmaker must be making their first fiction feature that runs at least 60 minutes. The idea is simple, yet powerful: to spotlight fresh voices and motivate them for their next big project.
In 1988, Mira Nair's Salaam Bombay won Camera d'Or.
A poster of Mira Nair's Salaam Bombay.
La Cinef
Spotlight on student storytellers. La Cinef is where film schools from around the world send their brightest talent, with fiction and animation shorts (under 60 minutes) vying for a Cannes stamp of approval. A four-member jury picks the best, and the top three walk away with cash grants: €15,000 for the first prize, €11,000 for second, and €7,500 for third. For many filmmakers, this is their very first brush with international recognition.
In 2024, FTII student Chidananda S Naik won the Best Short Film Award for Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know.
In 2024, FTII student Chidananda S Naik won the Best Short Film Award for Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know.
L'Oeil d'or (The Golden Eye)
This is the pinnacle for documentaries at Cannes. They're screened under Cannes Classics. Only two documentaries have ever won Palme d'Or – Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004) and Jacques Cousteau's The Silent World (1956). More recently, in 2022, Indian filmmaker Shaunak Sen brought home the Golden Eye for his hauntingly poetic All That Breathes.
Payal Kapadia's debut documentary, A Night of Knowing Nothing (2021), also won the honour.
Other sections at Cannes
Out of Competition
Films not eligible for competition are screened here, under Special Screenings, Midnight Screenings, and Tributes.
Cinéfondation
This category showcases student films under 60 minutes to inspire the next generation of filmmakers.
Cannes Classics
This section screens restored heritage films and documentaries.
It was launched in 2004.
Cannes premieres
It was introduced to accommodate films that the Festival wished to include In Competition but couldn't, due to the limited number of slots in the main lineup.
Parallel sections
While the Official Selection at Cannes may grab headlines, some of the festival's most exciting discoveries happen off the beaten track – in what are known as the Parallel Sections.
Directors' Fortnight
It is an independent, non-competitive sidebar at the Festival.
It welcomes everything from short films to full-length features, across fiction, non-fiction, animation, and experimental works. The only condition: the director of the film should be present at the screening. Audience members need not be industry insiders, and post-screening Q&A sessions with the filmmakers are a norm. In 2012, Anurag Kashyap's Gangs of Wasseypur earned rave reactions here.
In 2024, Radhika Apte's Sister Midnight made waves under the same banner.
Critics' Week
Organised by the French Syndicate of Cinema Critics, the Critics' Week was created in 1962. The section is credited with discovering some of the biggest names in independent and arthouse cinema, many of whom have gone on to find success at the official festival. Some iconic Indian films have passed through here. Gitanjali Rao's animated short Printed Rainbow left a mark when it premiered in 2006. In 2013, The Lunchbox, starring Irrfan, was screened at Critics' Week and walked away with the Grand Rail d'Or (Viewers' Choice Award).
In 2013, The Lunchbox, starring Irrfan, was screened at Critics' Week.
What is Marche du Film (Cannes Film Market)
You've probably heard a filmmaker say, 'My film was at Cannes!' Technically, they're not lying – but here's the catch: not every film is screened at the Cannes Film Festival. Some are part of its buzzing, parallel event – the Marché du Film, or the Cannes Film Market.
India was named the first 'Country of Honour' at Marche du Film in 2022.
It is the beating commercial heart of the festival. Thousands of film professionals gather just around the corner, making deals, pitching stories, chasing distributors, and hunting for the next big thing in cinema. There are panels, conferences, workshops, and keynote addresses from cinema's most revered names. For many, it's where dreams begin.
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