Discover the Glamour: Top 12 Fun and Surprising Facts About Cannes You Need to Know!

1. Liberation from the Nazis

It’s not surprising that the Germans found a sun-soaking spot in the south of France hard to resist during WWII; who wouldn't, right? But thanks to the star-studded teamwork of Allied forces, every bad Nazi film found its ending: Cannes was liberated in August 1944, bounced back from its gloomy days, and now lives up to its legacy as a luxurious destination with stunning beaches and a world-famous film festival that continues to light up the silver screens.
Source => cannes-festivals.com

2. Birth of Cannes Film Festival

In a twist of cinematic irony that would make even Tarantino proud, the Cannes Film Festival was born out of political drama and a snubbed film: seeking refuge from the biased and politically tinged Venice Film Festival in 1939, a group of filmmakers and critics convinced the French government to create a drama-free, censorship-resistant film festival. Cannes won the cinematic lottery with its willingness to build a dedicated venue, forever shaping the future of film and red carpet fashion.
Source => cannesguide.com

Did you know that Paris' open-air urinals played a crucial role in World War II? Discover how these unassuming lavatories became secret communication hubs for the French Resistance! 🕵️‍♂️💬🚽

=> Fun Facts about Paris

3. Cannes Yachting Festival

Ahoy, yacht-spotters and vessel virtuosos! Cannes has turned into a real-life "Boat-emon" Go: the Cannes Yachting Festival showcases a jaw-dropping 640 boats in the water, including everything from speedboats to superyachts. In 2019, the festival hosted 542 exhibitors while offering free sea and land shuttles for visitors to easily navigate between the Vieux Port and Port Canto.
Source => robbreport.com

4. Defying High-Heel Rules

If the shoe fits, wear it... flat or heeled! Cinderellas of the Cannes Film Festival are no longer strictly bound by the towering glass heels of fashion's old tales: Women have been gradually bending the unofficial high-heel-only rule on the red carpet, with celebs like Maimouna N’Diaye sporting chic flats and Susan Sarandon showing up in black pointy-toe flats in recent years. So as the clock strikes midnight, or any other hour for that matter, the ladies of Cannes can choose comfort or glamor – or both!
Source => vogue.com

5. Newman & Woodward's Cannes Love

Before Paul Newman was tossing some salad (dressing) into the culinary world, he was stirring up the heats of Cannes with his better half: Newman and Joanne Woodward were Cannes Film Festival favorites in the 50s and 60s, even featuring on the 2013 festival poster sharing a cinematic smooch from their 1963 film, A New Kind of Love, in honor of the late actor.
Source => esquire.com

6. Controversial Director Returns

When he wasn't just "Trier-ing" to make headlines: Danish film director Lars von Trier faced a ban from the Cannes Film Festival in 2011 due to controversial remarks about Hitler during a press conference for his competition title "Melancholia," but his new movie "The House That Jack Built" will be presented out of the official competition at this year's festival.
Source => nytimes.com

7. Hotel Martinez Makeover

If celebrities built sandcastles, they'd use the finest grains: Perched on the sands of the French Riviera, the Hotel Martinez in Cannes has had a swanky makeover, transforming from a drab queen into a contemporary coastal belle. In its never-ending game of thrones for the finest sandy real estate, the hotel's shining jewel remains La Palme d'Or, a two Michelin-starred restaurant dishing out masterful culinary art on ceramic plates designed by chef Christian Sinicropi himself.
Source => forbes.com

8. Picasso's Cannes Soirée

In a scene straight out of "Night of the Steel-Brushed Cravats," Picasso left his palette and paintbrushes to attend a classy French soirée – and yes, darling, he even put on a shirt and tie: When the famed artist attended the Cannes Film Festival opening night in 1953 for "Le Salaire de la Peur," he didn't leave his signature mark on the festival poster – that honor went to Bettmann.
Source => photos.com

9. Jeanne Moreau's Double Presidency

In a world where most people only get their 15 minutes of fame, a French actress had the Cannes-do attitude to score double the jury presidency at the prestigious film festival: Jeanne Moreau was the only person in over six decades to hold this esteemed position twice, first charming the red carpet in 1975 and staging a presidential encore in 1995. Notable co-stars in this elite club include Steven Spielberg in 2013, Isabelle Huppert in 2009, and Roman Polanski in 1991.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

10. The Pink Carpet Secret

Who knew the Cannes Film Festival had a flair for interior design? They've seamlessly married the scenic French Riviera backdrop and the glamorous world of cinema with a surprising twist in their choice of carpet! Here's the scoop: Contrary to popular belief, the famed "red" carpet is actually a lovely shade of pastel pink, which was introduced in the 1990s to complement the breathtaking blue skies and azure waters. This subtle, warm-toned hue ultimately elevates the grand entrance, making it even more of an inviting, Instagram-worthy spectacle for global movie aficionados.
Source => timesofindia.indiatimes.com

11. Pelé's Cannes Film Premiere

When life handed young Pelé some cleats, he decided to make World Cup history - lemons be darned: This Brazilian soccer prodigy's journey to score the winning goal at 17 years old in the 1958 World Cup was immortalized in the Brian Grazer produced biopic, "Pelé: Birth of a Legend", which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2016, featuring the talents of Kevin de Paula, Vincent D'Onofrio, Rodrigo Santoro, Diego Boneta, and Colm Meaney.
Source => imdb.com

12. Netflix Rebellion at Cannes

In a drama worth of its own Netflix series, French cinema aficionados gave a standing ovation to the small screen rebellion at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival: Netflix's entries, Okja and The Meyerowitz Stories, faced backlash from French theater owners for their online-exclusive release, leading to a change in festival rules that now only allows films with a theatrical release in France to be in competition at Cannes.
Source => vox.com