Festival opened this friday with less than stellar guest list!
Public System who runs the show hoped to be smart avoiding the dates clash with Venice though.

Festival claims 50 000 viewers (and 150 000 extra tourists to the town) which is a good number. We estimate a good 70% the blockbusters attendance of those premieres showing in opening or closing week end.
As for the remaining 30%: the indie showcases that fill the dull & empty week between week ends is nothing but a nice holiday alibi for indie producers in need for vacation in a nice a resort offering comfortable suites at Normandy or Royal, a trip to Omaha Beach, and a good "Moules Frites" meal at Les Vapeurs or Miocque, who just returned from his retirement.

Funny (is it?) the website is is stil mute, blank for internet explorer users; With no "state of the art" press office to release news, no accreditation for media that request it a week before opening... we will not bother reporting about the homages, the strong sponsor attendance filling the theatres, nor the classy sponsor villages or terraces...
We loved Deauvile but is this festival loosing it?
Bruno Chatelin