It's potentially the most prominent film holiday in the world and its more than 70 years of history prove it. Since its beginnings, The Cannes Global Film Holiday has marked the history of 7th art for the creativeness of its competitors, its glamour and scandals.
Despite being officially created in 1939, its origins can be tracked to the beginnings of that decade. Even more surprising, the 1st edition just happened in 1947.
But let's start with the beginnings. In the first years of the 30s, politics were influencing the final jury's calls in the Venice festival, giving advantage to films in which spectators and officeholders could see a wink to Benito Mussolini's fascism politics.
Therefore, French and American filmmakers decided to promote the concept of making a new festival in which art would be awarded, independent of any political influence. Thus, 2 towns were offered to host the event: Cannes and Biarritz. At the end, the elected was the first one.
Everything was going well and the date for the first edition was chosen to be in September of 1939, but all of a sudden happened what everybody feared in Europe: Hitler ultimately invaded Poland and the World War II started, delaying the festival till 1947 when the conflict was over. In that first edition, Luis Lumiere, one of the fathers of the cinematography, was chosen as the president of the jury.
Across the years, The Cannes Film Holiday has experienced small but important changes, among them, the identification of the Golden Palms the highest prize given in the festival. The decision was keenly supported by the outstanding French artist Suzaanne Lazon.
In the 60s, the festival was well established and recognised amongst the most significant in the world, having awarded filmmakers like Luis Buuel and Federico Fellini. Ten years later , the selection format for competing movies modified. Before, every country was autonomous to select the film to represent the nation. After the change, the festival's directives were those who chose the films partaking of the competition
With the new format, directors such as Martin Scorcese, Francis Ford Coppola and Ridley Scott, were awarded with Golden Palms.
In the 60s, the festival was well established and recognised amongst the most vital in the world, having awarded filmmakers like Luis Buuel and Federico Fellini. A decade later on the selection format for competing movies changed. Before, every country was autonomous to pick the film to represent the country. After the change, the festival's directives were those who selected the films partaking in the competition
With the new format, directors like Martin Scorcese, Francis Ford Coppola and Ridley Scott, were awarded with Golden Palms.
The Golden Palms
It is the award each filmmaker would love to win, for what it represents within the industry and out of it. But many people ask what does The Golden Palm represent? Why a golden palm? The answer isn't as difficult as it appears to be.
The highest prize in The Cannes Global Film Holiday is The Golden Palm as a tribute to the city's coat of arms, in which a palm is represented. The award design has changed throughout the years as well as its standing as the greatest award given in the festival.
So, made in 1955, The Golden Palm was the highest honour given till it needed to be changed in 1964 due to legal restrictions. From that year and till 1975 the primary award the jury gave to rivals was the Grand Prix. But The Golden Palm returned to become the most vital prize and the symbol of the festival.
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The Cannes Festival and plenty more are on Eurochannel: www .eurochannel.com /production. Read more on Cannes with the Top 5 scandals!
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