Cannes Film Festival 2008

The 61st Cannes Film Festival will take place from 14 May to 25 May 2008.

General Information

• See the Official Festival website for all the films in and out of competition, updates and news on special events, concerts and more

• Parking in Cannes is often very difficult – rather use the bus or train: Train timetable SNCF (be aware of possible strike action and reduced service)

The Jury

This year's Cannes Film Festival competition will be judged by a jury made up of:

• Sean Penn, President of the Jury (Actor/Director, USA)
• Natalie Portman (Actress, USA)
• Alfonso Cuaron (Director, Mexico)
• Rachid Bouchareb (Producer/Director, France)
• Sergio Castellitto (Actor/Director/Screenwriter, Italy)
• Apichatpong Weerasethakul (Director, Thailand)
• Alexandra Maria Lara (Actress, Germany)
• Jeanne Balibar (Actress, France)
• Marjane Satrapi (Author/Director, Iran)

The film opening the competition is Blindness by Fernando Mereilles, with Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo, Danny Glover, Gael García Bernal. The closing film is What Just Happened by Barry Levinson with Robert de Niro, Bruce Willis, Robin Wright Penn, John Turturro and Sean Penn.

Open to the Public

The Official Film Festival and the Film Market are closed to the general public. 

Residents of Cannes can win a free ticket to a screening with the tirage au sort lucky draw. Applicants must go to the Mairie and submit proof of residence in Cannes and then "wait and see". 

• For winners of the 2008 lucky draw for tickets to festival screenings: Click here

Members of film (cinéphile) clubs, film schools or other cultural groups from the PACA region may also apply for "Cannes Cinéphiles" passes. Applications (with justification) must be made before early May to:

• Cannes Cinéphiles
  At: L'OMACC,  La Malmaison, 47 la Croisette, 06400 Cannes
  Tel: 04 97 06 45 15
  Fax: 04 93 68 34 49

Cinéma de la Plage 

The open air cinema on the beach - Plage Mace - is opposite the Majestic hotel on the Croisette. Each night during the festival there are screenings of out of competition films and Cannes classics. A request for an invitation should be made to the Cannes Tourist Office or Cannes Cinéma’s Espace Cannes Cinéphiles (48 hours if possible) before the show. 

The screenings are free. "Doors" open at 20:30; a live band plays with the screening beginning at 21:15. (Deck chairs are provided free).

• For a full programme: Click here
• More information from the Tourist Office: Click here
• Cannes Office de Tourisme
  At: Palais des Festivals, La Croisette
  Tel: 04 92 99 84 22
  Fax: 04 92 99 84 23
  Website
• Cannes Cinéma
  At: La Malmaison, 47, La Croisette
  Tel: 04 97 06 45 15
  e-mail
  Website

The Festival on TV

You can watch the Festival at home with the Live TV Festival, broadcast 24 hours a day in French and English. The TV Festival is broadcast on the following channels:

• Canal Satellite: channel 16 (in French)
• NC Numeri-cable: channel 90
• Cannes local cable network: channel 9

Other Events

International Critics’ Week: Most screenings are restricted to badge holders except:

• Open to the public: screenings at the Miramar by invitation only. Invitations may be requested from the Espace Miramar, 35 rue Pasteur in Cannes.
• Screenings at the Cinema de Valbonne Sophia-Antipolis are open to the public. 

Director's Fortnight (Quinzaine des Réalisateurs)  
Films shown on the independent Quinzaine des Réalisateur are open to accredited badge holders only. 

• At: La Malmaison, 47 La Croisette, 06400 Cannes.
  Tel: 04 92 18 84 30
  Fax: 04 93 39 78 23

The Cannes Tourist Office will be able to provide you with general information (but not tickets).

• Cannes Tourism
  At: Office du Tourisme, Esplanade Georges Pompidou
  Tel: 04 92 99 84 22
  Fax: 04 92 99 84 23
  e-mail

French Riviera Festival Services and Suppliers

Click on the links below to The AngloFILE for companies offering the following services in English: 

Transport services

• Aircraft Charter & Helicopters 
• Chauffeured Limousines & Coaches 
• Car Hire & Bike Rental
• Bodyguards & Personal Security 

Event services

• Event Planners & Management 
• Event & Meeting Venues
• Employment Agencies & Recruitment 
• Catering, Caterers, Cooks & Chefs
• Yacht Charter 

Personal services

• Monaco Designer Shopping 
• Hairdressers & Beauty Treatment
• Dress Hire & Tuxedo Rental

Other Information

This page will be updated as more information becomes available. 

Festival 2007