By Lubna Abdel-Aziz Everyone in filmdom is, was or wants to be at Cannes! For eleven days in May, and for the last 64 years, the movie world stops, to focus on their primo international film festival. Once that quaint little city on the shores of the Mediterranean was the brunt of jokes and ridicule, now it has developed into the most coveted meeting place for filmmakers worldwide. Tens of thousands descend on this idyllic sea-side resort, waking up every grain of sand on its beaches, to greet the invasion of the affluent and the beautiful, the rich and the famous, the best of the best that film has to offer. Cannes wakes up from its winter doldrums to become this excessive, exotic wonderland, dizzying, tantalizing as well as chaotic. It was not always this way. In fact, it was never meant to be, except for a strange turn of events in 1834. It was then, just a quiet, sleepy, fishing village, neighbour to its older and more desirable relative, Nice, the winter- haven of Europe's aristocracy. In 1834, Lord Brougham headed for his favourite winter resort, early in May, but just before reaching his destination, an outbreak of cholera prevented him from entering. Rather than turn back, our winter-weary traveler decided to settle down in lowly Cannes, where his bones would be equally warmed up. Slowly but surely, this previously unheard of spot has become the playground of the privileged classes, and none is more privileged than the world's filmmakers. Now, home to an endless number of regal hotels, sumptuous restaurants and high-priced boutiques, Cannes' electrifying boardwalk 'La Croisette', numerous, conference rooms and convention halls and an endless number of movie theatres, is home to serious students of film sa well as frivolous devotees of glitz and glamour. With over 30, 000 movie professionals in attendance this year, Cannes started slowly and modestly on September 1, 1939. After the opening-night screening of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame", WWII broke out, and the festival was canceled, until 1946. It was slow to gain momentum until an incident on the Croisette set the world on fire. In 1954, a little-known, little-clad starlet called Simone Silva, dropped her bikini-top and attempted to kiss American-screen bad boy Robert Mitchum. A million cameras clicked and flashed. A post-war world was scandalized. Cannes has had little trouble attracting attention since, from the skimpiest starlets, to the mightiest movie-moguls.I In past decades Cannes made a concerted effort to attract serious films and serious filmmakers The festival selections became truly international as they scraped the globe for all that was fresh and new in film The art of film and its creators was at the epicenter of the festival's philosophy and policy. Cannes fathered the' directeur/ auteur' trend, and warmly embraced controversial political themes, leaning left of the pendulum at most times .It became a forerunner for the future of the industry. On the way Cannes picked a few favourites, who have become perennial regulars on their roster. You may recognize such names as Gus Van Sant, Lars Von Trier, Pedro Almodovar, Ken Loach among others. This year is no exception. Nothing earth-shattering, but rather an eclectic mix of East and West, commercial and art works, not to mention the ever-lasting parade of naked flesh, keeping the film community engaged and entertained. Cannes would not be Cannes without the shock value. Some of the sensational, or outright shocking films is t Keith Allen's documentary " Unlawful Killing", which confirms lingering suspicions that Princess Diana was killed. For the outrageous category Cannes has included the Israeli 'entry "Slut' directed by Hagar Ben Ashar, who plays the sexually explicit scenes herself. Naturally, the film is playing to wide audiences. Italian director Nanni Moretti, another Cannes regular, was set to have the Vatican reeling with his " Habemos Papam", about a newly elected pope who gets cold feet. It turned out to be a non-shocker, leaving the Vatican stunned, but relieved. The shocker was reserved for the Aussies. Despite a fairy-tale title, "Sleeping Beauty" played by 22 yr. old Emily Browning, is a disturbing, erotic drama about a young woman who enters a high-class prostitution ring and submits to assorted abuse with shocking passivity. Are Cannes films provocative? Yes! Are they highly artistic? Sometimes! There is something for everyone at Cannes, that is why everyone is there. If you hang around long enough you might see such luminaries as Robert de Niro, head of the International Jury, Jude Law or Uma Thurman, jury members, Antonio Banderas, Selma Hayek, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Woody Allen and on and on, all there for the sake of film and fun. Egypt was given a nod of recognition for its January 25th revolution, and a special presentation of several documentaries on the subject. Iconic Italian filmmaker Bernardo Bertolucci received the inaugural Palme d'Or,and more Golden Palms will be distributed among this year's esteemed film artists, second only to the Oscars. More than another film festival, Cannes is a global happening. Journalists attending this year exceeds 4000. Cannes Film Festival is the third largest world-wide media event, after the Olympics and the Football World Cup. What France loses on the football field, it makes up on Cannes' famous Croisette. No doubt, money talks, and money is abundant among the movie elite at Cannes. Yet the voice of film art can often be heard, adding to the status of this legendary spot on Mediterranean shores. Yet who can help loving the land that has taught us. Six hundred and eighty five ways to dress eggs -- Thomas Moore (1779-1852) Irish poet.
