During my current experiment of trying to "do" Cannes while not actually being there (in others words, virtually if not physically), it is quite astonishing to me that so little actual coverage is available to the average American consumer. Yes, we did catch a glimpse of Tom Hanks on the red carpet, and read much speculation about the fate of THE DA VINCI CODE, but it seems that anything that is not part of the tyranny of celebrity gossip finds scant space in American newspapers or television s...

With the worldwide simultaneous release today of THE DA VINCI CODE across the globe, a question lingers in the air: Did Cannes kill The Code? Or more specificially, did the buildup and hype surrounding the Cannes opening create such a high expectation that the film will suffer from disappointed critics and viewers? While the mass hysteria over THE DA VINCI CODE has passed into memory in Cannes with all the subtlety of a hangover after too much champagne, the industry waits with bated breath th...

Everything is getting ready from the Red Carpet, well, not yet red, too the Variety pavillion. ...

For the first time, Cannes Classics will feature an animator, and the honour goes to Norman McLaren, who won the Short Film Palme d’or in 1955 with Blinkity Blank. A selection of 13 McLaren films has been put together in homage to the great filmmaker and to celebrate 65 years of animation at the National Film Board of Canada. Jacques Bensimon, Government Film Commissioner and Chairperson of the NFB, said, “McLaren’s genius continues to amaze us. Every film in this program underscores the ...

For the second consecutive year, the Fondation LibanCinéma (FLC) is taking part in the Cannes Film Festival by participating in the Film Market, thus providing Lebanese cinema with a bridge towards the international market. Three screenings illustrating the diversity of Lebanese film production are organized as follows: May 23rd at 4 pm, Palais F, 115 mn: Bosta by Philippe Aractingi, best box-office of the year. May 23rd at 8:30 pm, Palais G, 88m:A perfect day by Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil...

In complement to and inseparable from the Festival de Cannes, the Marché du Film is home to the international motion-picture trade. Each and every year, it welcomes producers, international sales agents, distributors and financiers alike hailing from more than 80 different countries. In 2006, the Film Market should top the bar of 10,000 attendees. This steady increase has made the Film Market the world's number-one meeting-place for motion-picture industry professionals. With over 1,400 scree...

For its second edition "Tous les Cinémas du Monde" welcomes seven new countries: Russia, Israel, Singapore, Switzerland, Venezuela, Tunisia and Chile. The goal of this programme of the Festival de Cannes is to illustrate the cultural diversity of world cinema. It was created and continues to develop thanks to financing from the Région Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. Russia, not so long ago, suffered an absence of great films and a void in the number of motion-picture theatres. Today, the volum...

From the Udine Far East Film Festival comes the list of Asian films that will be at Cannes! Plus Jury President Hong Kong director Wong Kar-wai is the brilliant signature of this festival. Asian Cannes Competition: Summer Palace, Lou Ye Quinzaine des realizateurs: The Host, Bong Joon-ho Yureru, Nishikawa Miwa Sepohon Rambutan Indah Kepunyaanku Di Tanjung Rambutan, U-Wei bin HajiSaari Un Certain regard: Re-cycle, Oxide Pang Chun & Danny Pang Gwai Wik Luxury Car, Wang Chao The Unforgiven,...

The Jury of Un Certain Regard will be presided by Monte Hellman. The Jury of the Golden Camera will be presided by Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne. The Actor's MasterClass will be given on Friday, May 19th by Gena Rowlands. The Music MasterClass by Alexandre Desplat, in dialogue with Jacques Audiard, will take place on Sunday, May 21st. The Cinema MasterClass will be hosted by Sydney Pollack on Thursday, May 25th. On this occasion he will present his documentary SKETCHES OF FRANK GEHRY. A brand-ne...

The Official Selection of the Festival de Cannes 2006 will, as every year, be made up films presented in: the Competition, Un Certain Regard, Out of Competition screenings. It offers both a shorts and film schools competition (Cinéfondation). Cannes Classics concerns heritage films, shown principally in the Buñuel Theatre. Finally, in addition to the theatres of the Palais (Lumière, Debussy, Buñuel, Bazin) now the Beach Cinema offers festival-goers and Cannes residents alike outdoors screen...