Facts about the International Cannes Film Festival

The goal of the Cannes Film Festival is to promote and draw public attention to the works of French and international filmmakers. Since the first festival in 1946, Cannes, the small French seaside town, has become an international luxury destination and attracts the top film stars from across the globe.

The Cannes Festival has been a setting in about 12 films, including Mr Bean in the second series of his adventures.

• The French Association of Artistic Action Director (AFAA), Philippe Erlanger and the film critics Emile Vuillermoz and Rene Jeanne came up with the idea of the Cannes Festival.
• From 1946 to 1959, the jury of the Cannes Festival was only chaired by Frenchmen.
• Since the mid-1990s, the jury meetings have been taken place at the Domergue Villa, in the California quarter.
• The 24 steps require 60 metres of carpet and are changed three times a day during the film festival.

In 1955, jeweller Lucienne Lazon created the Palme d’Or or Golden Palm. Since 1997, Swiss company Chopard has been in charge of manufacturing the award. The Golden Palm branch is made of 18-carat gold and is valued at about 20.000 Euros. Each year, two reserve awards are made in the event of two winners or an accident.

Woody Allen has never taken part in the competition for the Palme d’Or, even though his films have repeatedly opened the Cannes Festival.