Movie fanatics are likely familiar with the legendary Cannes Film Festival. This highly publicized annual event enters its 78th year in 2025. Since its inception in 1946, the film festival has showcased diverse films and launched new movements like the French New Wave. It also offers a platform for launching careers for new filmmakers. In this blog, we will discuss everything there is to know about Cannes, including 2025 dates, selected movies, and invitations.
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Who Gets Invited To Cannes?
- Happening In: Cannes, France
- Social Media: Official Website, Official Facebook, Official Instagram
Can a regular person go to Cannes? This question is frequently in people’s minds. This annual film festival is exclusively reserved for film industry professionals, including actors, actresses, artistic agencies, authors, directors, writers, cinema owners, film school students, producers, film technicians, music-related professionals, and press-media. Every participant must have festival accreditation to access the Palais des Festivals and the Marché du Film. Likewise, screening selection goes through a thorough process. Cannes’ Selection Committee is in charge of the official selection and decides which section a movie can participate in. Several sections include In Competition, Un Certain Regard, Out of Competition, Midnight Screenings, Cannes Premieres, and Special Screenings.
Although this film festival is primarily for industry professionals, movie fanatics aged 18 to 28 can participate through the “3 Days in Cannes” program. To get accreditation, interested individuals must submit the application form with an ID document, an ID photo, and a love letter to the cinema. They can also attach a letter about their professional project in a few words. In 2025, three sessions of three days are open to participants:
- Session 1: May 14 (Wednesday) to May 16 (Friday)
- Session 2: May 19 (Monday) to May 21 (Wednesday)
- Session 3: May 22 (Thursday) to May 24 (Saturday)
Cannes Film Festival 2025 Lineup
- The 2025 Cannes Film Festival Date: May 13 to 24, 2025
The 2025 Cannes Film Festival lineup is here! With actress Juliette Binoche as the jury president, this year’s selection features many returning filmmakers and first-time directors. Amélie Bonnin’s Partir Un Jour will open the festival on May 13 which will continue till May 24. The following twenty-one movies are in competition this year:
| Films | Directors |
| The Phoenician Scheme | Wes Anderson |
| Eddington | Ari Aster |
| Jeunes mères | Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne |
| Alpha | Julia Ducournau |
| Renoir | Chie Hayakawa |
| La Petite Derniere | Hafsia Herzi |
| The History of Sound | Oliver Hermanus |
| Sirat | Óliver Laxe |
| New Wave | Richard Linklater |
| Two Prosecutors | Sergei Loznitsa |
| O Agente Secreto | Kleber Mendonça Filho |
| Die My Love | Lynne Ramsay |
| Dossier 137 | Dominik Moll |
| The Mastermind | Kelly Reichardt |
| Un Simple Accident | Jafar Panahi |
| Sound of Falling | Mascha Schilinski |
| Woman and Child | Saeed Roustaee |
| Romeria | Carla Simón |
| Eagles of the Republic | Tarik Saleh |
| Sentimental Value | Joachim Trier |
| Fuori | Mario Martone |
Arco (Ugo Bienvenu), Tell Her I Love Her (Romane Bohringer), Mama (Or Sinai), and Bono: Stories of Surrender (Andrew Dominik) will be special screenings. L’Homme qui a vu l’Ours qui a vu l’Homme will be a tribute to Pierre Richard.
Cannes Film Festival Tickets
The Festival de Cannes welcomes between 35,000 and 45,000 attendees yearly. To accommodate them, the venue offers five to six screenings each day in its nine theaters: Grand Théâtre Lumière, Debussy, Bazin, Agnès Varda, Buñuel, Screen X, IMAX, Salle 3, and Aurore. Only those with accreditation can access the online ticket office and book tickets four days in advance. Nonetheless, the general public can attend the Cannes opening ceremony and afterparty. Here are the best seats and their prices:
- Balcony Tickets: €5,750 per person; upper floor seating – does not include full red carpet access.
- Orchestra/Corbeille Tickets: €8,950 per person; lower floor seating with red carpet access
- Official Afterparty Tickets: €6,750
- Chopard Love Party: €7,500
- Chopard Trophee Party: €5,500
- Chopard Gents Party: €5,500
- Philip Plein Fashion Show & Party: €6,500
- Moet & Chadon Yacht Party: €5,000
Cannes Film Festival Winners
The Festival de Cannes is the most prestigious film event with a seventy-eight-year legacy. It is one of the ‘Big Three’ major European film festivals alongside Berlin and Venice. The city of Cannes has hosted this film event since its inception in 1946. Over the years, many filmmakers have won the prestigious Palme d’Or (awarded to the Best Feature Film director) and Grand Prix (awarded by jury for one of the competing feature films). As Cannes enters its 78th edition, let’s look back at some of the Palme d’Or and Grand Prix winners:
| Year | Palme d’Or | Grand Prix |
| 1946 | Robert Rossellini | Not introduced yet |
| 1952 | Orson Welles | Not introduced yet |
| 1967 | Michelangelo Antonioni | Joseph Losey, Aleksandar Petrovic |
| 1979 | Francis Ford Coppola | Andrei Konchalovsky |
| 1993 | Jane Campion | Wim Wenders |
| 2009 | Michael Haneke | Jacques Audiard |
| 2016 | Ken Loach | Xavier Dolan |
| 2022 | Ruben Ostlund | Lukas Dhont, Claire Denis |
| 2024 | Sean Baker | Payal Kapadia |
Best Things To Do In Cannes
The city of Cannes has gained prominence thanks to the Cannes Film Festival. But there is more to this town than just film-related fame. If you are thinking about traveling to Cannes, here are the top things you can do there:
Sailing Excursion & Provençal Picnic
- Duration: 5 to 6 hours
- Price: $127.33~
- Ratings:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Free Cancellation
Cannes is a resort city of the French Riviera offering many water activities and island hopping tours. Let’s begin our itinerary with this Sailing excursion & Provençal picnic. This half-day activity starts from the Port de Cannes, where you will depart for the Sainte Marguerite Island in the Lerins archipelago. You will enjoy sailing across the calm water and can participate in the boat maneuvers. This tour includes an anchor picnic with homemade tzatziki, anchovies, vegetables, and rosé wine. It also includes walking around the island and visiting the eco museum behind it.
Cannes Shore Excursion: Grasse, Gourdon & St Paul de Vence
- Duration: 8 hours
- Price: $461.87~
- Ratings:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Free Cancellation
Enjoy this private Cannes Shore Excursion. This full-day itinerary covers the city highlights, including the Film Festival Palace and the grand beachfront Croisette Boulevard with designer boutiques and luxury hotels. You will visit Grasse, the world’s capital of perfumes. You will also see the charming Gourdon village and stroll around the streets of St. Paul de Vence. Expect fantastic coastal scenery and opportunities for celebrity sightings.
Saint-Tropez Day Trip
- Duration: 7 hours
- Price: $159.06~
- Ratings:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Free Cancellation
Embark on a Saint-Tropez Day Trip from Cannes. This 7-hour journey covers the French Riviera’s two most charming and luxurious spots. Your first stop will be Port Grimaud, a little town known as the Venice of Provence. You will tour around and learn the port’s history. The tour’s second destination is Saint Tropez, where you will explore its narrow streets where tradition meets modernity. If your booking is on Tuesday, you will also check out the city’s traditional Provencial market.
Hilltop Villages Guided Tour in French Riviera from Cannes
- Duration: 7 hours
- Price: $121.55~
- Ratings:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Free Cancellation
Experience this Hilltop Villages Guided Tour in the French Riviera from Cannes. This 7-hour itinerary covers four charming villages, each offering a unique experience. Your first stop is Grasse, the capital of perfume, where you will visit one of its best perfume factories. Then, you will travel to Gourdon to witness its authentic charm. This picturesque village is an open balcony on the Georges du Loop and the Mediterranean. You will also admire Tourrettes-sur-Loup, the City of Violets, and end the journey with a quick visit to St. Paul de Vence.
Explore Cannes in 60 minutes with a Local
- Duration: 1 hour
- Price: $79.87~
- Ratings:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Free Cancellation
Get ready to explore Cannes in 60 minutes with a local. This small-group activity covers the city’s major attractions, including La Croisette, Le Suquet, Rue d’Antibes, Marché Forville, and Place de la Castre. You will check out luxurious stores, boutiques, and vibrant market stalls. Your guide will also offer helpful travel tips and recommendations throughout the journey. This fast-paced itinerary is ideal for time-pressed visitors.
Private Day Trip: Verdon Gorge, Castellane, Moustiers from Cannes
- Duration: 9 hours
- Price: $674.29~
- Ratings:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Free Cancellation
If you are on an extended vacation, plan a private day trip from Cannes. This 9-hour trip covers the highlights of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence region. You will uncover the beauty of the Verdon Gorge, discover the spectacular Castellane, and wander the medieval passageways of Moustiers Sainte-Marie. You will also stop by a picturesque Lake of Sainte-Croix amidst the mountains. This tour offers convenient travel in an air-conditioned luxury Mercedes minivan. It also includes a tour guide fluent in English and French.
The Cannes Film Festival is a formal, invitation-only event with historical and cultural significance. Attendees must follow a strict dress code for the opening ceremony and gala screenings. Men must wear a dinner jacket or tuxedo with a bow tie, while women must wear an evening or cocktail dress. Even if you can’t catch film screenings in Cannes, these movies are theatrically released in France and other countries after the festival’s end in late May. There might be slight delays depending on the country’s specific media regulations.
