Home > Filmmaker Resources and Information > Cannes Guide

The work of the British Council

The British Council, founded in 1934, is the UK’s international cultural relations organisation with offices in 216 towns and cities in 110 countries worldwide. Its work includes teaching English; running information centres; promoting British education and training; working closely with governments and NGOs (Non-Governmental Organisations) on reform and good governance; and demonstrating the innovation, creativity and excellence of British science and arts. Our aim is to update perceptions of Britain, create international partnerships and forge long-term cultural links. Visit www.britishcouncil.org for more information.

The work of Films Department

Films Department aims to broaden and build international audiences for new work from Britain. To do this, we have a core team of sector specialists, an expert knowledge of contemporary British cinema and partnerships with a wide range of film industry professionals. This resource is backed up by direct access to a worldwide network of British Council offices, film festivals and partner organisations. 

Our activities include:

• Organising prints, speakers and publicity material for international film events. (festivals, seminars, workshops, masterclasses, British/European film weeks, multi-arts events).
• Promoting selected British short films seeking international festival screenings.
• Providing a preview service for selectors from major film festivals.
• Providing grants to enable British filmmakers to attend selected festivals, markets and showcase screenings.
• Print Fund (for British Council supported short films, which have been accepted into major festivals).
• Organising British stands at key film markets such as Berlinale and Clermont Ferrand Short Film Festival.
• Publications: British Films Catalogue, biennial Directory of International Film and Video Festivals.
• Operating the portal website www.britfilms.com which provides a range of information on the British film industry, including the above publications.
• We do not finance film development or production.

Films Department and Cannes

The British Council first became involved in the Cannes Film Festival in 1986, to mark the closure of British Film Year, when the British Pavilion was launched by the Cannes Action Committee as a meeting point for the worldwide film community and their British counterparts.  The 'crowning' glory of the early years was the visit to the 40th Cannes Festival and the 2nd British Pavilion by the Prince and Princess of Wales in 1987. This ended with a special screening of Lindsay Anderson’s The Whales of August followed by a gala dinner for 700 in the Salon des Ambassadeurs.

British Council staff in London and Paris have been involved since 1986 in running an Information Stand/Reception desk in the British Pavilion and, for the last two years, in the UK Film Centre. 

UK Film Centre

Created in 2003, the UK Film Centre (www.ukfilmcentre.org.uk) is funded primarily by the UK Film Council and partner organisations such as British Council, Scottish Screen, Sgrin Cymru Wales, the Regional Screen Agencies, studios and facilities houses. The UK Film Centre is located on a prime beach front position in the International Village next door to the American pavilion. The Centre is usually open during the festival 9:00 – 20:00.

The UK Film Centre’s underlying aim is to draw on the Cannes Festival and Marché to communicate a cohesive and coherent UK industry message internationally to encourage inward investment and cultural objectives by:

• Providing a unified, clearly identifiable UK presence
• Promoting the concept of the UK as a 'film hub' – a destination for international investment; a supplier of skills and services for the global marché; a producer of British films for worldwide audiences
• Stimulating industry growth by embracing international markets
• Providing networking opportunities to encourage international partnerships with the UK across all sectors including development, production, sales, distribution, training and facilities
• Facilitating the promotion of, and access to, information about the UK film industry

The UK Film Centre provides the following services:

• Information Desk (staffed by British Council personnel) providing information on UK companies and delegates, British films and co-productions screening during the festival;
• Message service for UK registered delegates
• Free internet access
• Terrace Café serving coffee, light lunches and snacks
• Daily Seminar programme open to all delegates
• Finance Surgeries
• Vidéothèque to view shorts and trailers from the UK (compiled by British Council from list of current shorts we represent on the short film festival circuit)
• Exhibitions

Brief History of the Cannes Film Festival

In 1939, the French Minister for l'Instruction Publique et des Beaux-Arts, Jean Zay, suggested creating an international film event in France. Cannes was chosen for its sunny location. The first Festival International du Film was postponed due to the Second World War. Finally on September 20th 1946 the Festival was held at the former Casino de Cannes. Run as a non profit-making organisation with a board of directors, the festival was granted charitable status in 1972. The festival was cancelled in 1948 and 1950 due to financial difficulties and in 1968 was interrupted by political events. In 1951 the festival moved to its regular slot of approximately two weeks in May.

In 1959 the Marché du Film was created bringing a commercial element to an artistic event. The Village International situated since 2000 around the Palais des Festivals has enabled an ever-increasing number of countries to promote their culture and cinema, and to support their producers and film industries.

Running parallel to the Official Selection, the Semaine Internationale de la Critique (Critics Week) and the Quinzaine des Réalisateurs (Directors Fortnight), respectively opened in 1962 and 1969, organise their own selections.

In 1978, upon the initiative of then General Delegate, Gilles Jacob, the Caméra d'Or prize was created for the best first film presented in any of the three sections. In 1998, Jacob created the Cinéfondation for short and medium length films from film schools all over the world, its objective being to discover and promote new talent. Following on from this initiative,  La Résidence du Festival was created in Paris in the autumn of 2000, providing young filmmakers with the chance to develop their projects and encourage the promotion of their work outside of their home country.

Main venues during the Festival/Marché

• Palais des Festivals – Marché and official screenings take place in various cinemas; location of some Marché stands; internet access; café
• Riviera – main location for Marché stands; screening rooms
• International Village – the cluster of white pavilions situated between the Palais and the sea.
• Hotels along the Croisette (the main thoroughfare running parallel to the sea) – Majestic, Carlton, Noga Hilton and Martinez – sales agents work out of rooms here
• Apartment complexes on/near the Croisette – Gray D’Albion (also a hotel), Grand (hotel), Relais de la Reine
• The prime office location for sales agents is on the Croisette: ideally, an apartment with a terrace overlooking the sea or directly in front of the red carpet area. The latter is particularly popular for viewing the stars attending the evening screenings.

Return to Cannes guide contents page