By Adrienne Papp
The film festival at Cannes has always been one of the world’s most glamorous events. As a showcase of international films, movie stars and the talent that create them, the week-long cinematic extravaganza has no equal when it comes to putting on a party. It’s an event that attracts jet setters from all over the world, and the international filmmakers and stars are feted at countless awards dinners and ceremonies.
This year, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, the eagerly awaited fourth installment on the series created by Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, was the key premiere event of the festival.
As the biggest film festival in the world of film, Cannes was the ideal place to premier the first Indiana Jones film in nearly 20 years. Leading up to its premiere, big budget action/adventure tour de force generated intense media speculation, and hordes of international paparazzi swarmed director Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Harrison Ford and the film’s other stars wherever they appeared during the festival.
The festival closed with Wim Wenders’ film The Palermo Shooting, but local favorite Entre les Murs (The Class) got a standing ovation when it won director Laurent Cantet the Palme d’Or, the top prize at the festival, beating out twenty-one other entrants. It was the first time a French film has won the prize for best picture in twenty years.
In addition to France’s winning entries, Italy’s filmmakers were also well received at Cannes. The Grand Prix, the festival’s runner-up award, went to Matteo Garrone’s dramatic Gomorra, a film based on Roberto Saviano’s bestselling book about the Mafia in Naples.
This year Angelina Jolie set off an explosion of flashbulbs at the Chinese-themed beachside festivities for “Kung Fu Panda,” where she arrived with Brad Pitt and costars Jack Black and Dustin Hoffman. Indiana Jones star Harrison Ford and companion Calista Flockhart were besieged by media as they celebrated at glitzy Hotel du Cap during the week, and took part in the festivities for Dennis Hopper’s 72nd birthday party aboard a yacht.
Other awards were voted for two industry veterans doing work characterized by jury president Sean Penn as being “so rare and so important.” One recipient was Catherine Deneuve, star of Arnaud Desplechin’s “A Christmas Tale,” a memorable drama about a weeklong family reunion during the Christmas holidays. The other recipient was Clint Eastwood for directing “Changeling,” a drama made with his solid low key acting and directing skills. Also, in honor of the 85th anniversary of Warner Bros., the festival featured 10 of the studio’s films at public screenings on the beach.
The festival at Cannes is always star-studded and glamorous, but it’s also an active business setting. This year a weak dollar meant good news for U.S. media companies looking for distribution. In the international film market, where the vast majority of sales are generated by Hollywood for foreign markets, the current exchange rates can only provide a boost to the film business in the U.S.
About the Author of This Article: Adrienne Papp is a recognized journalist, economist and feature writer, who has written for many publications including Savoir; The Westside Today Publications ; such as Beverly Hills 90210; Malibu Beach; Santa Monica Sun; The Beverly Hills Times; Brentwood News; Bel-Air View ; Celebrity Society ; Celeb Staff ; It Magazine; Chic Today; LA2DAY; West Side Today among many others. She is the President and CEO of Los Angeles / New York-based publicity company, Atlantic Publicity and publishing house, Atlantic Publisher. Adrienne writes about world trends, Quantum Physics, entertainment and interviews celebrities, world leaders, inventors, philanthropists and entrepreneurs. She also owns Atlantic United Films that produces and finances true stories made for theatrical release or the silver screen. Spotlight News Magazine is owned by Atlantic Publicity that just opened a new extension to it : PublicityLosAngeles. Adrienne Papp is a member of the International Press Academy.She is the Founder, CEO and President of Youthful & Ageless ™, Bringing Information to Billions™, An Honorable Cause™ www.LatestAgeless.com. www.OurMediaVenuesAndCompanies.com, Atlantic Publicity Articles, Latest Ageless, Events Photo Collection, Linked In Profile, Movie Data Base Profile, Twitter, Instagram, Youthful and Ageless Google+, Atlantic Publicity Google+, Atlantic Publisher Google+, Adrienne Papp Google+, Adrienne Papp Personal Google+, Spotlight News Magazine, Atlantic Publicity Productions, Atlantic Altitude, Altitude Pacific, Atlantic Publicity Photography and Filming, About Adrienne Papp What Others Say AtlanticPublicitySEO, BrilliantMarketing365, An Honorable Cause, Academic Research, Knighthood Today, Youthful and Ageless™. She was knighted and became a Dame in 2010. Her official name is Lady Adrienne Papp and Dame Adrienne Papp. Voting Member of The International Press Academy and The Oscars: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. She is the Managing Editorial Director of The Beverly Hills Times Magazine, and Hollywood Weekly. She has a Master of Science in Economics majoring Logistics; an MBA Degree; An International Law, Trade and Finance Postgraduate: Marketing and Advertising Postgraduate from NYU and UCLA. Guest Professor at Oxford University; Director and Producer of TV and Airline On Camera Editorials; Adrienne Papp Enterprises
