What happens at the Cannes Film Festival?

One of the biggest exhibitions in the film industry is the Cannes Film Festival. This festival is filled with chats between young and old actors, producers, and artists from different countries of the world. Anyone can submit a film to Cannes and representatives of the international film industry have the opportunity to see it. If they like it, investment can be matched for new producers. The careers of directors like Quentin Tarantino and Steven Soderbergh started through the Cannes Film Festival. Let us try to find out when, how the Cannes Film Festival started, and what happens here.

Beginning

The famous writer Philippe Erlanger conceived the idea of ​​organizing the first Cannes Film Festival in 1938. The first edition was supposed to be held in 1939. But it was closed due to World War II. The first edition was held on a small scale in 1946, overcoming the war environment. The best award of the festival, the 'Palme d'Or' or 'Golden Palm', was first awarded in 1955. The Swiss jewelry company Chopard modernized the award in 1997. It is made of 24-carat gold and crystal.

12-day festival

The most prestigious festival in the film world is held in Cannes, a city in the southeastern region of France on the Mediterranean coast. The festival is held for 12 days every year in May.

Since its inception in 1946, the best film has been awarded every year. It is one of the world's leading film directors, actors and producers. It is particularly known for the Palme d'Or award, which is given to the best film in the main competition category. The competition section is held at the Palace of Festivals.

Film Selection

Every year, around 2,000 films are submitted and the selection committee reviews each film. From there, 56 feature films and 14 short films are selected for the official selection. These 70 films are mainly screened in the main Cannes festival.

The films that are selected for the official selection are divided into several categories: 1. Competition: Feature Films and Short Films; 2. Feature Films Out of Competition; 3. Un Sartre Riga; 4. Cinefondation.

A film must comply with several requirements when competing. Regardless of the category, whether it is in the main competition, out of competition or Un Sartre Riga, it must have been made at least 12 months before it was submitted to the festival. The film cannot be shown in any international context, even in the country where it is being made. While there is no specific time limit for feature films, short films cannot exceed 15 minutes.

Although the films screened in the Out of Competition section are selected by the Cannes Selection Committee, there is no obligation to comply with the competition criteria.

The films screened at An Sartre Riga must be the director's first film and demonstrate the director's experimental techniques and progressive ideas.

The Cinéfondation section was launched in 1998. Students from film schools around the world can submit their films to this section. The films screened here must be mainly fiction, realistic or animated. The maximum length must be one hour.

Jury

The official jury at Cannes is divided into two parts—the Feature Films Jury and the Short Films and Cinéfondation Jury. Voting is by secret ballot and the majority rule is followed. Jury members cannot have their films in competition.

Jury members are selected by a selection committee. The official jury is made up of those who have recently made a name for themselves in the film industry. Being a member of the jury board is a great honor. Being the main jury is even more so.

Bangladeshi cinema

In 2022, the trailer of the film 'Mujib: The Shaper of a Nation' was screened at the Indian Pavilion at the Marshes du Film, the commercial wing of the Cannes Film Festival.

In 2021, 'Rehana Mariam Noor' directed by Abdullah Mohammad Saad was selected for the Un Sartre Riga section. This was the first time a film had been selected for any competition section at Cannes.

In 2016, Khan Ataur Rahman's Urdu film 'Jago Hua Savera' was screened in the Cannes Classics section. The film, made in 1958, was shot in Bangladesh.

In 2002, Tarek Masud's 'Matir Maina' participated in Cannes from Bangladesh. It won the FIPRESCI Best Film Award.

At a glance

1. It has been known as the Cannes Film Festival since 2002. Earlier, it was known as the 'International Film Festival'.

2. So far, 80,000 people related to film have been invited to Cannes.

3. 4,000 journalists from different parts of the world have been invited to Cannes.

4. 5000 films have been screened and 200 films have competed for the Palme d'Or.

5. The Palme d'Or is worth around 26 lakh taka.

6. The red carpet at Cannes is 180 meters long.

7. 89 countries are represented at Cannes.

8. 1,000 people work to organize Cannes every year.