The Best Things to Do in Cannes During the Film Festival

The Palais is where all the major screenings take place during Cannes Film Festival – it has 18 auditoriums. The classic images of stars photographed before their movie screenings during the film festival are taken on its famous red steps, outside the Lumière Theatre. The red carpet gets so dirty that it is changed three times a day (in contrast, the Debussy theatre has a blue carpet). Badge holders attending the festival get penalised for not turning up and leaving auditorium seats empty, so unused tickets will be brought back if they can’t be used, and re-offered to the public. It isn’t unheard of for particularly well-dressed visitors to be given one of these coveted tickets. For men, this means a tux. For women, a glamorous gown.

Throughout the Cannes Film Festival, one of the best places to see movies for free and to soak up some of the wonderful atmosphere is the open-air cinema screening at Mace beach. If you haven’t secured a ticket in advance for a seat, there’s no need to worry. You can spread a blanket out on the ground, open up your pre-prepared picnic and a bottle of wine, and enjoy the movie. Not all films are in the English language, so check beforehand. The cinema is opposite the Hotel Majestic, next to the Palais.