Why go
Stand at the Palais des Festivals, then look along the nearby Croisette to place the film event in the city rather than imagining a year-round attraction. The festival brings competition screenings, other selections and film-industry activity to Cannes. Check the official programme before making plans around a particular screening or public event.
The full story
The Cannes Film Festival began in 1946, when its first edition took place at the Casino Municipal. Today its principal venue is the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès by the waterfront. That link between a working festival venue and a seaside resort helps explain the city's familiar film image. The festival is more than a single red-carpet ceremony. Its Official Selection includes films competing for the Palme d'Or alongside other screenings. Separate sections have presented new filmmakers, short films and restored works. Parallel programmes also broaden the cinema on offer. Juries decide the main awards, while film professionals gather for industry events. These strands change from edition to edition, so the current programme is the right source for any particular film or event. If you are visiting outside festival time, the Palais and Croisette still make the connection between Cannes and cinema legible. Treat them as places to see in the city, rather than assuming a screening or a festival interior visit is available on an ordinary day.