The World's Most Glamorous Cinema Event
Every May, the small French Riviera city of Cannes transforms into the global capital of cinema. The Cannes Film Festival — formally the Festival de Cannes — has been held annually since 1946 and remains the most prestigious, most watched, and most influential film festival on the planet. For movie lovers everywhere, it's an unmissable cultural moment even if you're watching from home.
What Is Cannes?
Cannes is both a competitive film festival and a major international film market. The festival selects films from around the world for official competition, with a jury of prominent filmmakers and artists awarding prizes including the Palme d'Or — cinema's most coveted award. The market (the Marché du Film) runs alongside it, where distributors buy and sell films for global release.
Key Sections of the Festival
- Official Selection – Competition: The main event. Roughly 20 films compete for the Palme d'Or and other jury prizes.
- Un Certain Regard: A parallel competition dedicated to bold, original, and diverse world cinema.
- Out of Competition: High-profile screenings of major films outside the competitive structure — often blockbusters or special premieres.
- Directors' Fortnight & Critics' Week: Independent sidebar sections with strong track records for discovering new talent.
- Special Screenings: Documentaries, restoration premieres, and tribute screenings.
Why Does Cannes Matter?
A Palme d'Or win or even a screening in official competition can transform a film's commercial and cultural trajectory. Many of the most celebrated films of the last several decades — from Apocalypse Now to Parasite — received their defining moments at Cannes. For international and arthouse films especially, a Cannes selection is often the gateway to global distribution and audience awareness.
Palme d'Or Winners Worth Watching
| Film | Year | Director | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parasite | 2019 | Bong Joon-ho | South Korea |
| Titane | 2021 | Julia Ducournau | France |
| Triangle of Sadness | 2022 | Ruben Östlund | Sweden |
| Anatomy of a Fall | 2023 | Justine Triet | France |
| The Secret of Grain | 2007 | Abdellatif Kechiche | France/Tunisia |
How to Follow Cannes as a Fan
You don't need to be in the south of France to engage with Cannes. Here's how to follow along:
- Follow the official Cannes website and social channels for programme announcements.
- Read coverage from outlets like Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Screen International, and Sight & Sound.
- Make a watchlist of each year's competition titles and work through them over the following months as they receive wider releases.
- Use Letterboxd to track which Cannes films are available to stream or rent.
Looking Ahead to Cannes 2025
The 2025 edition is expected to feature an exciting mix of returning auteurs and emerging global voices. As always, the festival will offer the first look at films likely to define the cinematic conversation for the rest of the year — and provide essential viewing for anyone who takes cinema seriously.