The Cannes Film Festival, which attracts everyone’s attention every year with its fashion and cinema, is being organized from May 16 to May 27 this year. For the last few years, the Cannes Film Festival has been in the news in India because here celebrities are seen walking on the red carpet in amazing dresses.
Actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has been seen at the festival many times. Last year, actress Deepika Padukone was selected as a jury member of the festival, which is counted among the most prestigious film events globally.
But what is it that generates so much interest in the Cannes Film Festival and what does it mean?
History Cannes Film Festival?
Its history began in 1936 when World War II tensions were rising. In 1938, a few months before the war began in Europe, the United States, along with some other countries, gathered in Italy to participate in the Venice Film Festival, one of the very few competitive film festivals in the world at the time.
When it came time to award the Best Picture award, the jury was unanimous in selecting an American film. According to the Cannes website, “Under pressure from Hitler, director Leni Riefenstahl’s Nazi propaganda film ‘Olympia’ and director Goffredo Alessandrini’s pilot Italian film ‘Luciano Serra’ won the Mussolini Cup.” Riefenstahl made propaganda films for Hitler’s Nazi regime.
Britain, the US, and France later abandoned the program. French representative Philippe Erlanger planned to launch a French program as an alternative. The French Foreign Minister, Georges Bonnet, was concerned about Franco-Italian relations, but Education Minister Jean Zey and Interior Minister Albert Sarrot supported the idea of a film festival for Europe in which the arts would not be influenced by political maneuvering.
Thus, in 1939, it was announced to start a film festival with the cooperation of countries like America. Cities in contention included Cannes, a coastal city on the southern tip of France, which local hoteliers and businessmen lobbied for and was later selected as a resort city.
However, tensions caused by the war in Europe led to the first festival being held in 1946, which was attended by stars such as Kirk Douglas, Sophia Loren, Grace Kelly, Brigitte Bardot, Cary Grant, Gina Lollobrigida, and painter Pablo Picasso. It included 19 countries and an international jury.
How Did the Cannes Film Festival Become Popular?
The first few editions included a variety of entertainment options other than movies. Parades, fireworks on the beaches, and pigeons released into the air. Nowadays, in addition to the awards, the festival also includes concerts, red carpets, and film screenings. Almost all of these are invite-only events and are restricted to a select few from the film industry.
The festival soon became world-famous as stars from all four corners of the world attended the festival and graced the red carpet wearing outfits from big designers.
For example, Aishwarya Rai first attended Cannes in 2002 for the premiere of her film Devdas. Since then, she has been involved as a global ambassador for the beauty brand L’Oréal several times.
Who Joined the Cannes Film Festival from India This Year?
The Cannes International Film Festival 2023 has started. Many pictures and videos of this event go viral on social media. Many stars from India also attended this program being held in France. So far this year, pictures of the Cannes debut of Sara Ali Khan, Manushi Chhillar, and Esha Gupta have been revealed in which they are seen flaunting fashion on the red carpet.
Urvashi Rautela also did not lag in wreaking havoc on the red carpet of the Cannes Film Festival 2023 on the 16th of May. Urvashi wore a pink gown layered with floral ruffles. She accessorized her look with a statement neckpiece. She was also wearing similarly designed hoops with a neckpiece.
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