74th Cannes Film Festival is Back in 2021, Day One- 06-07-2021

After canceling the Cannes Film Festival in 2020 because of Covid 19, the 74th Cannes Film Festival is back in 2021 with its opening day on July 6, albeit two months later than its usual May date.  However, with some major changes to protect attendees, including Covid testing daily, fully vaccinated people along with social distancing and the wearing of masks.  

The red carpet steps are as lively with the paparazzi who I am sure missed having the opportunity last year of capturing pictures of the stars in attendance. This year they have the added pleasure of having Jury President Spike Lee Jury who always brings a lot of antics and wit on the red carpet. Opening day at the 74th Cannes Film Festival he showed up in a Louis Vuitton hot pink suit with matching sunglasses and custom Nike sneakers with his face on the tongue and a pink trim. Spike also has the added attention of having his likeness on the this years program, the Palais billboard and the official poster. An unheard of accomplishment at the Cannes Film Festival. I have attended every year since 2000 and never saw this offered to any other Jury President. Spike Lee will lead the jury of this year's at this years Cannes Film Festival and organizers hope the provocative American director will “shake things up” at the gathering of the world's cinema elite. Lee said he was “honored to be the first person of the African diaspora" chosen for the prestigious position. I am so sorry I was not able to attend Cannes this year for this historic moment and to cheer on Spike Lee in his history making role. 

Versailles 73:American Runway Revolution Makes It's Boston Debut During Fashion Week

Follow this link for the schedule for 2014 Boston Fashion Week

The documentary film Versailles '73:American Runway Revolution was screened October 9, 2014 during Boston Fashion Week at the Landmark Kendall Square Cinema in Cambridge, Massachusetts. I have been a fan of this documentary film since first viewing it during the debut at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. It was there that I met filmmaker Deborah Riley Draper. Ms. Draper wrote, produced and directed this extraordinary film that has won numerous awards and screened internationally over the past two years.

The diverse Boston audience of academics, fashionistas, members of the business community enjoyed the film and were thoroughly engaged throughout the screening. A lively Q&A followed with Ms. draper answering a wide range of questions. Having attended quite a few screenings of this film over the past two years, I must say I was impressed by the audience response and the way in which they enjoyed the film.  I received a number of texts and emails the next day from audience members detailing how impressed they were with the film.

During the Q&A, Mr. Fabien Fieschi, Counsel General of France in Boston, stated that even though he is from France, he had never heard of the Versailles '73 event. Thanks to Deborah Draper after 40 years this event is now getting worldwide recognition.

Director Deborah Riley Draper and Fabien Fieschi, Consul général de France à Boston

Deborah Riley Draper, Versailles 73 Model Jennifer Brice, Audrey Evans and Felicia Faison 

Arlett Cox, Donald Burroughs and Teresa Burroughs 

Gregory Matthews and Wanda Bakon

Larry Faison, Evelyn Wheeler and Audrey Evans

Larry Faison and Evelyn Wheeler 

Lacy Barnes, Deborah Draper, Evelyn Wheeler and Jennifer Brice

Versailles 73 Model Jennifer Brice

Audrey Evans and Ophelia Bakon

First Cannes Red Carpet Experience

May 2001 is my first time in Cannes for the film festival. I traveled here with my best friend Trudy and my neighbors in Nice, Dan and Mary Dennis. They brought their son Lance who is experiencing his first trip to the French Riviera. The Dennis' have traveled here before and were the first people I called when I found out about the flats for sale in Nice when I traveled here in March 2000 for my birthday. We purchased adjacent flats at Residence Massena and decided that it was the perfect location for visiting during the Cannes Film Festival and the Monte Carlo Grand Prix. Prior to our first trip in May 2001, Dan was in Los Angeles for a Board of Directors meeting for Bank of Commerce. He spoke with one of the other attendees for another bank about our upcoming trip to Nice and our hope to attend the Cannes Film Festival while there, but didn't have any credentials or knew anyone in the industry. The Gentleman he spoke with, responded, "well you do now" and introduced himself as a VP of Sony Films. Long story short he hooked Dan up with John Honore from Columbia Pictures France in Paris and John hooked us up with Sherani Mercier the Columbia representative in Cannes. We met Sherani at the Carlton who arranged for us to attend Sean Penn and Jack Nicholson's screening after-party for their movie 'The Pledge' that evening and also arranged for us to attend a screening and walk the red carpet the next day. The film that we saw was the Russian entry in competition. Thus my first foray onto the Cannes red carpet.

2001 Official Cannes Film Festival Program

Program Page for The Pledge

Partygoer's at the after party for Sean Penn's move The Pledge

Party after The Pledge red carpet screening

Ticket for Russian film Taurus red carpet screening at Grand Theater Luminere 

Program details of Russian Film "Taurus"

Drinks after the red carpet screening of Taurus

I must say for my first ever trip to the Cannes Film Festival, the most prestigious in the world, it was more than I ever expected to be able to break the barrier of the most sought after red carpet in the world. 

Looking forward to many more years of visiting the French Riviera and the Cannes Film Festival. Call me the luckiest girl in the world.