We Cannes And We Did!

Cannes, probably the most famous film festival in the world, was founded in 1946 as a reaction to World War II and the Fascist politics of Venice Film Festival. America, England, and France wanted a non-biased festival and fair representation. The Festival turned 76 this year. It’s known for premiering the greatest films in the world, by the greatest directors, but also for launching and discovering new talent.  The interesting thing about Cannes is the entire world is represented, and the entire world comes to it. You will find programmers from Morocco to Bhutan to Argentina.

Cannes is many different festivals at once, from the glamorous red carpets and celeb-filled yacht parties, to the press and programmers scouting out the new direction cinema will take. There really is something for everyone. Cannes was chosen to house the festival because its prime location on the French Riviera. Screenings take place all over town from the luminous Grand Palais to the many intimate and historic theaters that keep cinephiles returning year after year.

Roxy Cinema spent a week on the Croissette plotting out programming for the upcoming year and meeting directors to bring over to New York! The best meet of the fest was Jonathan Glazer, who in our opinion directed a masterpiece with his latest, The Zone Of Interest. We have been patiently waiting 10 years for his new work, and this did not disappoint.

Director’s Fortnight which is a subprogram within the festival has launched many directors that we love at the Roxy Cinema including Abel Ferrara, Paul Schrader, Josh and Benny Safdie, and Martin Scorsese to name a few. This year the fortnight included the directorial debut of Roxy Favorite, Sean Price Williams, with a screenplay penned by Nick Pinkerton, or affectionately known as our City Dudes. To see many of the familiar faces of the Roxy Cinema parading along the Croissette and streets of Cannes to celebrate their premiere was very special. The Roxy Cinema is creating a special space within the cinematic world for cinephiles, directors, and audiences to come together, and it was special to see that all the way in France.

Other highlights included the latest Todd Haynes film May December, Maiwann’s Jeanne Du Barry starring Johnny Depp, and the brilliant french film Anatomy Of A Fall by Justine Triet. Our pro tip, do not read reviews before you see the films. Really refrain from reading anything about The Zone Of Interest, it will be that much better when you see it, we promise.

Other films fell flat for us, like Black Flies and Fire Brand. We did love the new Michel Gondry film and the Joanna Arnow masterpiece,  The Feeling That The Time For Doing Something Has Passed. It was also quite special to walk the red carpet for The Idol premiere and watch 2 episodes of the highly anticipated Sam Levinson HBO show with a few thousand other people.

We partied ’til dawn, spent nights with our favorite directors on the beach dreaming up what’s next, and we woke up early for croissants and cinema. We can’t wait for next year.