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Cannes film festival
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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
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Also known as: Festival de Cannes
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Festival de Cannes
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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.