DISCOVERING AND HIGHLIGHTING FILMS AND ARTISTS
THE OFFICIAL SELECTION
The Official Selection consists of two main sections: the Competition and "Un Certain Regard". It is completed by the feature films presented Out of Competition, at midnight or at special screenings. Not to forget the shorts competition and the Cinéfondation's film school selection.
THE COMPETITION
Symbolised by the Climbing of the Steps, the Competition represents both the most visible part of the Festival and the heart of the Official Selection. It welcomes the most highly recognised artists of world cinema and reveals emerging talent.
The films in Competition aim to touch international audiences and illustrate the Festival's desire to privilege an "auteur cinéma for the general public".
At the Festival's Closing Ceremony, the Jury awards its prizes: the Palme d'Or, the Grand Prix, Best Actor and Best Actress Awards, Best Director Award, Best Script Award and Jury Prize.
UN CERTAIN REGARD
"Un Certain Regard" highlights singular works, original in their message and aesthetics, which reflect the renewal of cinematic expression.
"Un Certain Regard" awards its Prize, sponsored by the Groupama-Gan Cinema Foundation, on the eve of the Official Award Ceremony in the Debussy Theatre.
FILMS OUT OF COMPETITION AND SPECIAL SCREENINGS
Le Festival de Cannes additionally presents feature films Out of Competition and Special Screenings. Out of Competition films are traditionally film-events, marking the year of cinema. The Special Screenings offer the tailor-made exhibition of more personal works.
THE SELECTION OF SHORTS IN COMPETITION
A selection of a dozen international shorts, grouped together into one screening, is presented to the Cinéfondation and Shorts Jury, which awards to the best the Short Film Palme d'Or.
THE CINEFONDATION SELECTION
This international selection of student films reflects both the diversity and dynamism of young creators, and proclaims the trends of the cinema of tomorrow.
Three of these works are distinguished by the Jury of the Cinéfondation and Shorts.
CANNES CLASSICS
This section places the prestige of the Festival in the service of rediscovered cinema, with restored prints and re-releases in theatres or on DVD of masterpieces of the past.
Cannes Classics equally hosts tributes to foreign film industries and documentaries on cinema.
IN SUPPORT OF CREATION
To favour recognition of young filmmakers, the Festival has taken a series of initiatives in order to support these future talents.
The CAMERA D'OR Prize, created in 1978, is awarded to Best First film presented either in the Official Selection (Competition, "Un Certain Regard"), the Directors' Fortnight, or the International Critics' Week.
The CINEFONDATION, inaugurated in 1998, has successively developed three complementary levels of intervention to accompany the work the new generation of international cinema:
- The Cinéfondation Selection presents film school productions within the framework of the Official Selection,
- The Festival's Residence welcomes each and every year in Paris twelve young directors to help them finalise the scripting of their first or second fictional feature film,
- The Atelier of the Cinéfondation, created in 2005, welcomes to Cannes twenty directors and their producers, selected for the quality of their feature-film projects, in order to help them complete already-acquired financing.
The SHORT FILM CORNER is dedicated to the promotion of shorts. Created in 2004 to respond to the demand of directors and producers alike, it's both a meeting place and showcase for their films, while offering all the services of a short-film market.
DEVELOPING SERVICES FOR PROFESSIONALS
THE MARCHE DU FILM
With more than 10,500 participants, 5,000 films and 1,500 screenings, the Marché du Film is the leading film market in the world. It contributes to the dynamism of the world's motion picture industry, particularly independent cinema, by offering tools for promotion, meeting and information to encourage exchanges and enable participants to develop their activities all year round.
CINANDO.COM
A reference tool for cinema professionals, www.cinando.com, created and managed by the Marché du Film, is the largest database of the world's film industry, and is updated before all major international events.
THE PRODUCERS NETWORK
The Producers Network offers a host of original initiatives aimed at producers, ever more numerous each year at the Festival. It enables them to develop those projects they wish to bring to the screen and master the ever more complex, global environment of world cinema. About 500 seasoned producers took part in the activities of the 2007 Producers Network.
WELCOMING FOREIGN FILM INDUSTRIES
THE INTERNATIONAL VILLAGE
The Festival de Cannes offers all motion-picture-producing countries the possibility of presenting their film industry within a national pavilion at the International Village. They can thus promote their culture and institutions, as well as develop exchanges. In 2007, the international Village welcomed 35 countries on either side of the Palais des Festivals, on the Riviera and Pantiero sites.
In 2008, the international Village welcomed seven new countries: Colombia, the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, Jordan, Belgium, Russia, Japan and the Ukraine.
OPENING UP TO THE PUBLIC
CINÉMA DE LA PLAGE
The "Cinéma de la Plage" is an outdoors theatre which welcomes each evening at nightfall a film from the thematic programming chosen by the Festival. These outdoor screenings, open to one and all, underline the importance granted by the Festival de Cannes to its ties with the general public.
