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Cannes film festival
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Large blue banner reading Festival de Cannes hangs above the red carpeted steps of the Palais des Festivals et des Congres, with people walking and sitting outside. Woody Allen speaking into a microphone with hands raised beside his face during a press conference, against a red background. Giorgio Armani wearing a black tuxedo and bow tie on the red carpet, with photographers in the background at the Cannes Film Festival. Matt Damon smiling and wearing a black shirt at a photocall for the film Stillwater at the Cannes Film Festival in France. George Clooney in a black tuxedo and Amal Clooney in a light-colored gown pose together on the red carpet, surrounded by photographers at the Cannes Film Festival. Selena Gomez John Hurt stands leaning against a white display with red Cannes Festival text, posing outdoors at the 66th Festival de Cannes. Steve McQueen, wearing a tuxedo and bow tie, smiles while holding the Camera D'Or award in its open case at the Cannes Film Festival. Helen Mirren smiles on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival, wearing a yellow gown and an ornate emerald and diamond necklace with matching earrings. Cannes Film Festival
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Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale, with her dog, Toto, from the motion picture film The Wizard of Oz (1939); directed by Mervyn LeRay. (cinema, movies)
Classic Closing Lines
Aerial view of the "Amant Double" (L'Amant Double) film screening during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals, May 26, 2017, Cannes, France. (red carpet)
This Day in History Quiz: September 20
Quick Facts
Official name:
Festival de Cannes
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Cannes film festival
Cannes film festival A red carpet adorns the stairs at the entrance to the prestigious Cannes film festival in Cannes, France.

Cannes film festival

French film festival
Also known as: Festival de Cannes
Written and fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
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Cannes film festival, film festival held annually in Cannes, France. First held in 1946 for the recognition of artistic achievement, the festival came to provide a rendezvous for those interested in the art and influence of the movies. Like other film festivals, it became an international marketplace where producers and distributors could exchange ideas, view films, and sign contracts. The phenomenon of international coproduction arose at Cannes in the late 1940s. The festival was at times the site of artistic contention as well, as in 1958–59, when advocates and opponents of the French New Wave exchanged diatribes and manifestos.

(Read Martin Scorsese’s Britannica essay on film preservation.)

This article was most recently revised and updated by Chelsey Parrott-Sheffer.