Movie lovers, young and old, have flocked to the surrounding areas around the festival's central building, the Palais. The highly anticipated movies premiering during this year's Cannes Film Festival have caused the frenzy of people in search for a red carpet invitation. Each individual yearns to participate in one of the most glitziest and most fashionable film festivals in the world.

The hopeful fans are seen holding simple sheets of paper with the phrase "Une Invitation SVP" or "One Invitation Please". The chances are very slim that an invitation would be given away, but on a few occasions the unexpected does happen. Two American film students waited outside all day Friday asking strangers for an invitation to the premiere of "Wall Street". The students weren't so lucky, but they were able to recieve two tickets to another anticipated movie, "The Housemaid". Beside the students was a man, mid forties, who had waited two full days with no luck of movie invitations. 

Many who wait are film students from around the world who have come to the Cannes to learn the operations of the film industry through internships and abroad programs.The others are just ambitious, enthusiastic movie followers. Whether the hopefuls have luck or not, the festival creates public interaction as much as possible. Each night of the festival, a beach screening is shown for the public. The Film Festival has a way of involving industry professionals and onlookers alike, so everyone gets a chance to be a part of this international spectacle. 

 -Summer Hawkins