AMPAV at Cannes 2017- 29 YEARS/29 FACTS

29 FACTS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT THE AMERICAN PAVILION (AmPav)

FOR OUR 29th YEAR AT CANNES FILM FESTIVAL 2017.

-Julie Sisk (AmPav Director) was in high school when she started The American Pavilion.

-In year one, AmPav kept all the bar/restaurant money in the bottom of the Xerox machine.

-In its first year in Cannes, AmPav rented journalists electric typewriters.

-For many years the stage in the Conference Center was made up of cases of beer, so the stage would begin to shrink as the festival wore on.

-The American Pavilion predates The International Village…there were only two pavilions for the first 15 years.

-We all miss Roger Ebert…he hosted more In Conversations in The Pavilion than any other journalist (and we named our conference center in his honor).



-John Cameron Mitchell and Julie Sisk started Queer Night on a lark 11 years ago and it is now one of the biggest and best annual parties in Cannes (and the only public LGBT social event of the festival).

-Faye Dunaway has her own table at The American Pavilion.

-Pink Martini played in The American Pavilion for the 10th anniversary…which ranks as many peoples’ favorite memory from Cannes.

-It takes a whole year to plan for 2 weeks at the festival.

-Since 2013, The American Pavilion’s Student Program has become more international than ever, with students participating from schools in over 20 countries.

- The American Pavilion’s Student Program attracts not only film students, but also business students, high school students, culinary students, and hospitality and event management students.

- The American Pavilion’s Student Program brings professors from various universities each year as Student Advisers and one of this year’s Student Advisers was a participant in The American Pavilion Culinary program 18 years ago!

-We have over 3000 students “graduates.”

-Our student program alumni have gone on to successful careers including director luminaries like Jeff Nichols, Acquisitions and Distribution executives and the first ever White House videographer.

-The Emerging Filmmaker Showcase has featured films from the likes of Ryan Coogler (before FRUITVALE STATION), Spike Lee (Producer of $15 KICKS this year), and Elizabeth Banks (Producer and Narrator of this year’s YOUR SINCERELY, LOIS WEBER). Over the years, Emerging Filmmaker Showcase films have starred Beck Bennett, Ernie Hudson, Danny DeVito, and Valerie Harper among many more boldfaced names.

-Three previous Emerging Filmmaker Showcase films were short-listed for Oscars and one - DAY ONE, directed by Henry Hughes - received an Academy Award nomination in 2016.

-The first year in Cannes Julie Sisk (AmPav Director) and Charles Stirum (AmPav Designer and Tech Director) did all the cooking in The Pavilion.

- We now have a robust Culinary Program and it is one of the only places in Cannes where you can get American coffee – Iced or hot!

-AmPav is probably the only place with American style breakfast at the festival - including breakfast to go.

-AmPav serves hundreds of meals everyday during the festival.

-We are open most nights after 6:00PM to ANY and ALL accredited festivalgoers.

-We are the only Pavilion that serves as a communications hub and hospitality house.

-We are the most affordable venue on the Riviera for private receptions and events.

-AmPav is the only venue in Cannes with sustainable carpeting…and for many years was the only venue recycling, trucking all the recyclables to Marseilles because it didn’t exist in Cannes.

-We are one of the few Pavilions not funded by a government. Without sponsorship and AmPav members’ support the AmPav would fail to exist.

-AmPav is a diverse international community.

- Every year we host unparalleled programming not available anywhere else at the festival.

-Nothing beats our view!

ABOUT THE AMERICAN PAVILION

The American Pavilion, celebrating its 29th year as the epicenter of American hospitality and communication at the Cannes International Film Festival, brings together both professional and emerging filmmakers along with industry executives from across the globe. A sought after destination for information, orientation, and recreation, it accommodates the needs of its members, guests and sponsors in a dynamic business environment. With its impressive array of amenities and services, AmPav provides an opportunity to relax in very comfortable surroundings.

The American Pavilion boasts the Roger Ebert Conference Series which offers insightful and provocative panel discussions and in-conversations with filmmakers, talent and top leaders; a restaurant and bar that provide fast service with a smile throughout the day and is open to all festival badge holders after 6:00pm most evenings; a coffee bar; free WiFi and charging stations; a media terrace with a panoramic view of the Riviera; the Emerging Filmmaker Showcase; the Culinary Program featuring chefs from across the US and Canada; The American Pavilion Worldwide Student Program; and public and private rental for parties and receptions.

For more information, visit www.ampav.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/americanpavilion

Twitter: @AmPav

Instagram: The_American_Pavilion