ON THE RED CARPET: 67th Cannes Film Festival

Guest of honor: SOPHIA LOREN

Sophia Loren on Red Carpet

It has been almost two months since the end of the 11 days of the 67th Festival de Cannes (May 14-24, 2014) and it has taken me every bit of that time to digest all that I saw, heard and ate during the 10 days of the festival. It should be called the Feastival de Cannes since their is so much to ingest into ones body and soul. The 2014 Cannes Film Festival lived up to its history of being the biggest and most prestigious film festival in the world. I am still in awe even after making fourteen trips to the festival. Red Carpet screenings, jaw dropping red carpet dresses, the film market, networking, beautiful people, yachts, luxury cars..., and then there are the parties and clubs that pop up all over Cannes. Not everyone attend Cannes thinking that every moment will be spent at red carpet screenings, press junkets or just doing business. At the top of your agenda is obtaining the list of parties and connecting with folks who can get you access.

Nicole Kidman in Grace of Monaco

The opening film this year was Grace de Monaco (Grace of Monaco) directed by Olivier Dahan and starring Nicole Kidman. It is highly controversial since the Palace in Monaco made it public that they were not pleased with this version of their Princesses life. Alas this is the Cannes Film Festival and controversy only fuels international attention. I attended the red carpet screening of the film and was stunned at the audience response to the movie at the end of the screening. Complete and utter silence. Here at Cannes, audiences tend to show their emotion whether its by boisterous applause and standing ovations, or people just walking out of a film. Unfortunately, a lot of people just fell asleep during this screening, including the people with whom I attended the screening. The critics were not very kind either. I did not see one single favorable review while in Cannes. I guess the Palace in Monaco is happy to say "I told you so". Although Grace of Monaco was not in competition at the Festival, it still stings when your film is panned so badly.

On the Red Carpet stairs at the screening of Grace de Monaco on May 14, 2014

Evelyn Wheeler and Lacy Barnes attend Grace de Monaco screening on May 14, 2014

Below is a brief review of Grace of Monaco by the Hollywood Reporter with a link to the full review:

"The 'Shrek' movies deconstruct fairy tale conventions

with much more depth and wit than this dreary parade

of lifeless celebrity waxworks." -- Stephen Dalton, The Hollywood Reporter

Ouch! But fortunately there were other triumphs at this years festival, with the Palme d'Or going to Winter Sleep. The film was the longest in competition running 3 hours and 16 minutes. Runner-up Grand Prize to The Wonders, Jury Prize to two films, Mommy and Goodbye to Language. The Camera d'Or went to Party Girl, a film about an older woman who makes the transition from a cabaret girl to marriage to a former client. I tried to get into this screening and so it seems did everyone else in Cannes. We made it to the entrance and was told the Salle Debussey was full.

Full list of winners with links to the Hollywood Reporter Reviews:

Palme d’Or: Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Winter Sleep

Grand Prix: Alice Rohrwacher, The Wonders

Jury Prize: Xavier Dolan, Mommy, and Jean-Luc Godard, Goodbye to Language

Best Director: Bennett Miller, Foxcatcher

Best Screenplay: Andrey Zvyagintsev and Oleg Negin, Leviathan

Best Actress: Julianne Moore, Maps to the Stars

Best Actor: Timothy Spall, Mr. Turner

Camera d'Or: Marie Amachoukeli, Claire Burger and Samuel Theis, Party Girl

Now for the fun side, parties and hot spots.

VIP Room at the JW Marriott located on the Croisette, boast an attendance on average of 1200 people per night during the festival. It's every bit what the name implies as many high profile people can be spotted getting there Cannes on.

Le Baoli located at Port Canto on the beach combo club, lounge and restaurant is one of the most popular spots in Cannes.

Club Costes by Albane is a pop-up club located on the Terrace of the JW Marriott is established as a membership club for VIP's set up to host the creme de la cream of the movie industry during the Festival. The membership includes not only entry into the club but 24 hour access to chauffeured BMW's and open bar by Belvedere. Not easy to get into but I partied here with friends from England and France and it is a showstopper. VIP and free complimentary everything.

Photo courtesy Gala Magazine

Le Gotha located at Palm Beach at the far end of Le Croisette, boasts top of the line entertainment every night during the festival and top international DJs are brought in for partying way into the wee hours of the morning.

Photo courtesy Gala Magazine

Of the top parties in Cannes, Chopard, Vanity Fair, Amfar, there are also many private parties held aboard the many yachts in the harbor and marina, and the surrounding Villas in the hills of Cannes. I attended the Cinerockom Cannes 2014 Award Party at Villa Jolie that featured a fashion show poolside by Raxann Chin (Femheka) and a ballet performance by Juneta Ozolina. An absolutely amazing evening at an amazing location, thanks to my friend Alain Azoulay of Azoulay Media.