Cannes Film Festival 2007
For twelve days in the month of May, the city of Cannes is transformed from a quiet seaside resort into the hub of the international film industry and it is precisely this glamour and wide ranged popularity, which makes Cannes ‘the' name among other film conglomerations.
Considered the world's most important film festival, the 60th Annual Cannes Film Festival will be held from the 16th to the 27th of May. Best known as the festival of celebrity hedonism, the festival this year will witness, what is customary to the Cannes- glittering repertoire of stars and a wide canvas of films from all across the world.
The festival also known as ‘le Festival de Cannes' is held annually in the town of Cannes in south of France, especially known for its ‘sunshine and enchanting setting'. In fact, the picturesque town noted for its gorgeous sandy beaches has come up in the world map for it nestling the prestigious festival.
It was in 1939 that the French Minister, Jean Zay proposed the creation of an international film event at Cannes. The first festival was scheduled for September 1939, but World War II caused its postponement to September 1946. Although planned as an annual event, it was not held in 1948 or 1950 because of budgetary problems. In the early 1950s it was decided to hold the event in the spring to take advantage of the lovely weather on the French Riviera during that season. Also in the 1950s, the festival secured its reputation as the exhibitor of the cream of cinema, and became more of an actual competition than a ‘film forum'.
Today, the festival is unanimously recognised as ‘The leader of the ‘Big Five' international film festivals' which includes Venice, Berlin, Sundance, and Toronto; involving a huge budget which amounts to approximately 20 million Euros, half of which originates from public funding. This financing is completed by contributions from a number of professional and institutional groups along with the festival`s official partners.
