By Lubna Abdel-Aziz What are some of the outstanding qualities that distinguish the French from among any other race? Undeniably one would be their unerring flair for the truly aesthetic, artistic and dramatic! It is readily displayed in their food, fashion and festivals. Early in the springtime, a sleepy little village by the deep blue Mediterranean Sea, becomes the central focus of the world when it hosts the majestic "Festival de Cannes", king and queen of all International Film Festivals. This is the star-studded media event that is surpassed only by the Summer Olympics held every four years. In spring of ever year, Cannes becomes the Cinema Capital of the World. Over 100,000 tourists and 30,000 professionals descend upon the sleepy seaside town to partake of her unequalled beauty. While the beach may be the place to gaze on unclad starlets, the Palais de Festival is where the serious business of film takes place, for when it comes to film that is where the action is. One thousand authors/directors, 4,000 distributors, 5,000 producers, 4,000 journalists cross paths, build bridges and fill gaps between the different languages, cultures and continents. They discuss their projects, iron their differences, and lay the foundation for the future of cinema. President Gilles Jacob describes it as "a mouth-watering menu with an inventive cuisine, that is neither too traditional, nor too pretentious, but the most international film festival in the world, open to all film genres." Despite wars, epidemics, trouble and turmoil, Cannes survives, changing its makeup to fit the times, changing its dress to remain in vogue, always and forever ultra-fashionable, provocative, seductive, intoxicating. Of course there is Berlin, Venice, San Sebastian and Toronto, but why is Cannes king? How did this tiny resort become the premier international film festival? Venice, pearl of the Adriatic was the first city ever to hold an international festival for film in 1932. When it became obvious to the participants that the festival was favouring countries of the Fascist Alliance, overlooking Jean Cocteau's master work La Grande Illusion, France withdrew in protest, followed by Britain and the US. A strong lobby of critics and filmmakers persuaded the French government to underwrite a French Film Festival, and the enchanting location of Cannes was chosen. Its inaugural doors opened on 1 September 1939 with The Hunchback of Notre Dame, only to close again the next day when France joined England in declaring war against Germany. It re-emerged in 1946 headed by 82 year-old Louis Lumiére who welcomed such legendary figures as Billy Wilder, David Lean, Roberto Rossellini, Walt Disney, as well as Cecil B de Mille, Hitchcock and Charles Laughton. The event was moved from September to April, later to May, as Cannes was losing a number of world premieres to other festivals. Moreover, businessmen saw little value in hosting such an event when the tourist season was winding down. Following a quick sketch of a palm leaf, icon tree of the Riviera, a gold trophy was created replacing the festival's top prize; and the "Grand Prix International" was renamed "La Palme D'Or". A world weary of the perils of war turned its attention to the glamour and excitement of the beautiful people as they jetted from one exotic resort to another. Cannes' idyllic site drew the billionaires, the royals, and the film stars to its shores, and by the 50s the "Festival de Cannes" became the destination of all filmmakers. Cannes's lasting reputation was established in 1954 during a photo session with sex idol Robert Mitchum, when a French starlet who could attract no attention on her own, decided to remove her bikini top for the cameras during Mitchum's photo-shoot on the beach. While her bare assets could not further her career, they did establish Cannes as the titillating glamour spot par excellence. For decades Cannes tried to shed her image of sex and sensationalism by inviting new styles and trends from energetic filmmakers around the world. It is credited for inspiring the auteur/director movement by introducing the likes of Abbas Kiorostami of Iran, Ingmar Bergman of Sweden, Fellini and Antonioni of Italy. Assuming the role of serious showcase for the best in film, Cannes has consistently upheld artistic standards, for an eclectic mix of genres to please all who come to her Film Fest. For film and filmmakers Cannes is the place to be, and only la crème de la crème are invited to walk up the steps of the coveted Red Carpet. Cannes has honoured legendary filmmakers from Kurosawa to Fellini, from Robert Altman to Francis Ford Coppola, from Steven Soderbergh to Lars Von Trier. No worthy talent ever missed encouragement from the watchful eye of Cannes. A total of 3,562 features and short films were submitted for consideration in 2004, and increase of 42.5 per cent over the last year. Fifty six feature films were selected for various categories, only 18 films representing 12 countries entered this year's competition considerably less than in last years: "We would like to spend more energy on fewer films", always favouring quality over quantity. "The Festival is a reflection of the latest available productions, and these 18 films are that reflection," stated Veronique Cayla, director of the festival. Among these films are a few surprises. A documentary by American filmmaker Michael Moore ( Columbine ) on the state of affairs in the US following 9/ 11, Fahrenheit 9/11. Two animated films are also entered in competition, the first is Innocence by Oshii Mamoru of Japan, and the second is SHREK II, a follow-up of DreamWorks super hit and Oscar winner of 2001 -- SHREK. A remake of an old British Alec Guinness classic The Ladykillers of the Coen Brothers, starring Tom Hanks, is also entered in this year's competition. Pedro Almod � var's La Mala Educaci�n will be featured on opening night, an Out-Of-Competition entry, a category that includes Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill 2, as well as Wolfgang Peterson's spectacular epic Troy which will premiere at Cannes 13 May, and released worldwide on 14 May. In the same category is a surprise entry by Egyptian Yousry Nasrallah Porte du Soleil, a four-hour documentary on Palestine and the Palestinians; the film will be projected in La Grande Salle Lumiére and will surely arouse a good deal of interest in that lamentable story. Another Egyptian entry is Youssef Chahine's biopic Alexandrie..New York in the category "Un Certain Regard". An habitué at the French Festival, Chahine will be accompanied by several stars from the film. After a long period of no-shows, Egypt has yet a third entry, Khaled El-Haggar's Hob El-Banat, in the new category "Inside Africa", showcasing film trends of the Dark Continent. Who will grace the plush, prestigious, powerful Red Carpet in 2004? Brad Pitt, Orlando Bloom and Diane Kruger representing Troy. Cameron Diaz and Eddie Murphy voice-overs for the princess and donkey in SHREK II, and superstar and twice Oscar winner Tom Hanks, star of The Lady Killers. More Oscar winners will grace the red carpet including this year's best actress Charlize Theron, and 2000's Shine, Geoffrey Rush for The Life and Death of Peter Sellers, a British entry by Stephen Hopkins. Uma Thurman is expected to accompany Kill Bill 2 together with Daryl Hannah. Serving on the jury are Kathleen Turner ( Romancing the Stone ) and heading the jury is Pulp Fiction director Quentin Tarantino. All celebrities and invitees, including all the artists behind competiotion films will get to climb on heaven's red staircase, the Red Carpet at Cannes. Closing night will feature DeLovely, Irwin Winkler's biopic musical of Cole Porter starring Kevin Klein and Ashley Judd, part of Cannes's salute to the American Musical and 80 years of super productions of MGM. While artistic secretary Thiery Frémaux may view the Festival's achievement as "a festival of confirmation and discovery", visitors from all life's venues will head home with a pocketful of treasures and sweet memories of sand and surf, scrumptious tastes of sumptuous foods, and spectacular sights and sounds of the film world and its ever-dazzlings sparkling, sizzling stars. They will forever cherish a lasting impression of French style and refinement. Well done and bravo Cannes! Who else but the French can pull off such a flawless event year after year with such perfection, polish and panache.
